Evaluating the role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR in ruling out active tuberculosis

Inge Rogers; Michelle A Barron

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2024.06.023

Evaluating the role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR in ruling out active tuberculosis

Am J Infect Control. 2024 Jul 2:S0196-6553(24)00582-0. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.06.023. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Inge Rogers¹, Michelle A Barron²

Affiliations

¹ Infection Prevention and Control Department, UCHealth, Medical Center of the Rockies, Loveland, CO. Electronic address: Inge.Rogers@uchealth.org.
² Infection Prevention and Control Department, UCHealth, Aurora, CO; Infection Prevention and Control Department, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO. Electronic address: Michelle.Barron@uchealth.org.

PMID: 38964661
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.06.023

Abstract

Laboratory algorithms using Acid-Fast Bacilli staining and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are often used to remove isolation precautions. A retrospective case review of 52 patients with culture-confirmed pulmonary Mtb revealed 4 subjects with negative sputum Acid-Fast Bacilli smears and negative Mtb PCRs. All had significant risk factors for Mtb and had a positive interferon-gamma release assay. A negative PCR test result does not exclude an Mtb diagnosis.

Keywords: Infection preventionist; Interferon-gamma release assays; Risk factors.