R&D in mycobacteriology

Development of new paradigms in the microbial diagnosis of tuberculosis

On the basis of our study and on previous studies addressing the clinical performance and the cost-effectiveness of the Xpert MTB/RIF, we use the Xpert MTB/RIF as first-line test to initiate pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis and the diagnostic work flow of pulmonary tuberculosis has been adapted in our hospital. Patients with a significant pretest probability of pulmonary tuberculosis (clinical presentation, epidemiology) are isolated. The microbial diagnostic is initiated by the Xpert MTB/RIF performed in the microbiology laboratory on spot sputum samples. A negative result does not rule out an infection but suggests a limited infectious potential of the patient.