Publications
Spot specimen testing with GeneXpert MTB/RIF results compared to morning specimen in a programmatic setting in Cotonou, Benin Institute of Tropical Medicine
BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) using smear microscopy has been based on testing two specimens: one spot and one early morning sputa. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended to replace, whenever possible, microscopy with GeneXpert® MTB/RIF performed on a single specimen. However, as the bacterial load is higher in early morning specimens than in spot specimens, one could expect lower sensitivity of ...
Xpert MTB/RIF assay for the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis: a diagnostic evaluation study University of Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine
Comparison of Xpert MTB/RIF with other nucleic acid technologies for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis in a high HIV prevalence setting University of Antwerp
Accuracy of lipoarabinomannan and Xpert MTB/RIF testing in cerebrospinal fluid to diagnose tuberculous meningitis in an autopsy cohort of HIV-infected adults Institute of Tropical Medicine Ghent University University of Antwerp
Point-of-care tests for tuberculous meningitis (TBM) are needed. We studied the diagnostic accuracy of the lipoarabinomannan (LAM) lateral flow assay (LFA), LAM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Xpert MTB/RIF in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in an autopsy cohort of Ugandan HIV-infected adults. We obtained written informed consent postmortem from the next of kin. A complete autopsy was done and CSF obtained. We performed LAM LFA (on ...
Effect of reliance on Xpert MTB/RIF on time to treatment and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Tanzania: a retrospective cohort study Institute of Tropical Medicine
Background: During 2009-2013, Xpert MTB/RIF testing was decentralized in Tanzania. Standardized treatment of multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) was centralized at the Kibong'oto Infectious Diseases Hospital. Initially, Xpert MTB/RIF results were confirmed and complemented with phenotypic drug susceptibility testing before MDR-TB treatment was started. Since 2013, the decision to start MDR-TB treatment in ...
Case report of a false positive result of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex KU Leuven
Improving pediatric TB diagnosis in North Kivu (DR Congo), focusing on a clinical algorithm including targeted Xpert MTB/RIF on gastric aspirates Ghent University
Low cycle threshold value in Xpert MTB/RIF assay may herald false detection of tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance University of Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine
Treatment decisions and mortality in HIV-positive presumptive smear-negative TB in the Xpert (TM) MTB/RIF era: a cohort study Institute of Tropical Medicine University of Antwerp
Background: The Xpert (TM) MTB/RIF (XP) has a higher sensitivity than sputum smear microscopy (70% versus 35%) for TB diagnosis and has been endorsed by the WHO for TB high burden countries to increase case finding among HIV co-infected presumptive TB patients. Its impact on the diagnosis of smear-negative TB in a routine care setting is unclear. We determined the change in diagnosis, treatment and mortality of smear-negative presumptive TB ...