Rapid Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Early case detection, treatment, and prompt household contact investigation, depend on rapid microbiological confirmation, by direct smear microscopy of acid-fast bacilli, in patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Since delayed diagnosis may result in death due to lack of appropriate therapy, rapid microbiological diagnosis is especially critical in HIV-infected persons. Improved rapid diagnostic methods are also crucial for the success of epidemiological studies; trials of preventative interventions, such as novel vaccines; and therapeutic interventions, since the diagnostic endpoints of such trials may require microbiological confirmation of tuberculosis. In clinical practice, early therapeutic intervention might reduce the risk of death, especially in patients co-infected with HIV. In this study, researchers propose to test a simple diagnostic modality for rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected adolescents and adults. Researchers will test whether induced sputum will improve the diagnostic yield of smear positive tuberculosis. This low-cost technology augments spontaneous sputum production by inhalation of a nebulized saline solution. The primary objective of this study is to quantify and compare the diagnostic yield of smear positive tuberculosis from induced sputum, with that of routine sputum, in HIV-infected patients with suspected tuberculosis. Researchers believe that induced sputum will increase the diagnostic yield from direct smear microscopy in this patient population. The secondary objective of the study is to quantify and compare the diagnostic yield of smear positive tuberculosis from induced sputum, with that of routine sputum, in all patients with suspected tuberculosis, regardless of HIV status. Researchers believe that induced sputum will increase the diagnostic yield from direct smear microscopy in all patients in this population, regardless of HIV status. Approximately 1200 individuals (male or female gender), aged 12 years and older, with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis, will be screened in order to enroll 600 eligible participants at 2 district health services clinics near the town of Worcester, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Informed consent for participation will be sought from adolescents and adults with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis who present to public sector community health services for investigation. A rapid HIV test, with pre- and post-test counseling, will be performed. A routine spontaneous expectorated sputum sample and an induced sputum sample (obtained after nebulization of sterile 5% saline via mask) will be collected. A second routine sputum will be collected on the following morning. Direct smear microscopy and mycobacterial culture of sputum will be performed in an accredited microbiology laboratory. HIV rapid test results will be used to classify participants for evaluation of the primary outcome, positive direct smear microscopy, and the secondary outcome, positive culture of M. tuberculosis. Diagnostic yields for each routine and induced sputum sample will be calculated, as a proportion of all patients who are culture-positive for M. tuberculosis, and compared in a pair-wise and sequential manner. Results will be reported as differences in yield and 95% confidence intervals for the difference in those proportions. The primary endpoint will be sputum direct smear microscopy positive for acid-fast bacilli. The secondary endpoint will be sputum culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Study duration will be 4 years with individual subject participation approximately 8 weeks.