Sputum smear-positive, Xpert ® MTB/RIF-negative results: magnitude and treatment outcomes of patients in Myanmar
This study is carried out in Yangon Region
Abstract
Setting: Myanmar’s National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) uses the Xpert® MTB/RIF assay to diagnose rifampicin (RMP) resistance in sputum smear-positive (Sm+) pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients. The Xpert test may occasionally yield negative results (Xpert–) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, indicating a false-positive sputum smear result, false-negative Xpert result or infection with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Patients with NTM may respond poorly to first-line anti-tuberculosis treatment.
Objective: To assess the burden of Sm+, Xpert– results at the national level and treatment outcomes of Sm+, Xpert– patients in Yangon Region.
This research was supported by the UK Department for International Development’s Operational Research Capacity Building Programme led by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union)
Citation
Phyu MH, Kyaw KWY, Myint Z, Thida A, Satyanarayana S, Aung ST. Sputum smear-positive, Xpert ® MTB/RIF-negative results: magnitude and treatment outcomes of patients in Myanmar. Public Health Action. 2018;8(4):181–6.