Emmanuel Musisi, Samuel Wamutu, Willy Ssengooba, Sharifah Kasiinga, Abdulwahab Sessolo, Ingvar Sanyu, Sylvia Kaswabuli, Josephine Zawedde, Patrick Byanyima, Praiscillia Kia, William Muwambi, Divine Tracy Toskin, Edgar Kigozi, Natasha Walbaum, Evelin Dombay, Mate Bonifac Legrady, Kizza David-Martin Ssemambo, Moses Joloba, Davis Kuchaka, William Worodria, Laurence Huang, Stephen H Gillespie, Wilber Sabiiti
BACKGROUND: In 2018, the tuberculosis molecular bacterial load assay (TB-MBLA), a ribosomal RNA-based test, was acknowledged by WHO as a molecular assay that could replace smear microscopy and culture for monitoring tuberculosis treatment response. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of TB-MBLA for diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response in comparison with standard-of-care tests. METHODS: For this longitudinal prospective study, patients aged 18 years or older with presumptive tuberculosis (coughing for at least 2 weeks, night sweats, and weight loss) were enrolled at China-Uganda Friendship Hospital Naguru (Kampala, Uganda)...
March 5, 2024: The Lancet. Microbe