The contribution of the Xpert MTB / RIF test in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis

Abstract

Objective: to determine the contribution of the Xpert MTB / RIF test in the diagnosis of tuberculosis compared to other diagnostic means.

Design:Descriptive,analytical and retrospective study, covering all patients treated for tuberculosis between January 2015 and March 2020 in the infectious diseases department of the Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakech.

Results: 191 patients were identified. The male gender predominated with 58,1% and the average age was 40 years with extremes between 17 and 69 years. One hundred and thirty-two patients benefited from the Gene Xpert. The positivity of microscopy, culture and the Gene Xpert was 10%, 89, 5% and 56, 8%, respectively. The Gene Xpert was positive in 58 sputum-negative (77.3%). The positivity rate was variable depending on the type of sample 72, 7% in cerebrospinal fluid, 66, 7% in pleural fluid and 57, 5% in sputum. Four cases (5, 3%) with rifampicin resistance was found. The mean treatment time was 4 days for patients with a positive Xpert MTB / RIF test and 13 days for patients whose PCR was negative.

Conclusion: the Xpert Gene allowed rapid diagnosis while reducing the therapeutic time and reducing the duration of contagiousness. However, a negative Xpert Gene does not rule out the diagnosis of tuberculosis