Danish Zahoor, Anjum Farhana, Munazah Manzoor, Farhath Kanth, Reyaz Nasir,
Volume 9, Issue 2 (Spring 2023)
Abstract
Backgrounds: Delay in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) leads to poor response to treatment and the disease transmission to susceptible individuals. The Xpert MTB/RIF assay efficiently detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). The present study aimed to compare acid-fast bacilli (AFB) microscopy, culture, and Xpert MTB/RIF assay in the diagnosis of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases.
Materials & Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Srinagar, India over 18 months from February 2019 to July 2020. Samples were processed and evaluated using AFB microscopy, culture, and Xpert MTB/RIF assay.
Findings: Among the 1862 samples evaluated, 224 samples were found to be positive using AFB microscopy, culture, and Xpert MTB/RIF assay. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay in diagnosing pulmonary TB cases was 98.23 and 97.69%, respectively. Among the smear-negative extrapulmonary samples, 52 (5.75%) and 86 (9.6%) samples were positive in culture and the Xpert MTB/RIF assay, respectively. The maximum recovery of MTB by Xpert MTB/RIF assay was from tissue biopsy specimens. Rifampicin resistance was observed in six samples.
Conclusion: Both culture and Xpert MTB/RIF methods were sensitive in detecting smear-positive samples. Although both techniques missed some smear-negative pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB cases, the Xpert MTB/RIF assay enhanced the detection rate of MTB compared to culture. The Xpert MTB/RIF assay enabled the accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis cases with a rapid turnaround time; therefore, it could assist clinicians to start timely therapeutic interventions for these patients.
Volume 13, Issue 1 (Winter 2025)
Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to determine the association of socio-demographic, educational, and attitudinal factors with knowledge about HIV/AIDS among young women aged 15-24 in Indonesia.
Methods: This study was a quantitative study with observational analytical and retrospective cohort study design. The data used was secondary data derived from the Individual Recode Dataset (IR File), 2017 Demographic Health Survey (IDHS). A total of 12,632 young women, aged 15 to 24 years, were involved in the study in Indonesia. This study utilized univariate, bivariate (chi-square), and multivariate (binary logistic regression) tests.
Findings: All variables were found to have a significant association with knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The most influential variable was the source of information about AIDS, comparing categories of no information versus more information (p= <0.001, aOR= 2.53, 95%CI= 2.30-2.78).
Conclusion: One way to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is by increasing comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Therefore, it is essential to enhance knowledge about HIV/AIDS, especially among vulnerable groups such as young women residing in rural areas, with low socioeconomic status, and low levels of education. Hence, the utilization of all available information and the equitable distribution of health facilities are crucial.
