Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and rifampin resistance in smear-negative clinical samples by use of an integrated real-time PCR method

J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Mar;49(3):1137-9. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01831-10. Epub 2010 Dec 29.

Abstract

Sixty-four of 85 (75.3%) smear-negative respiratory (n = 78) and nonrespiratory (n = 7) samples with positive cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) were detected by the GeneXpert system using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay (GX). In addition, GX found rpoB mutations in all six of the rifampin-resistant strains detected. The test was negative in 20 culture-negative and 20 nontuberculous culture-positive samples (100% specificity). GX offers high potential for the diagnosis of tuberculosis due to its capacity for direct detection of MTC, its rapidity, and its simplicity.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Mutant Proteins / genetics
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Time Factors
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis / microbiology

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Mutant Proteins
  • rpoB protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases