DIAGNOSIS OF TUBERCULOSIS BY ADVANCE GENEXPERT METHOD IN DISTRICT BANNU, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA (KP) PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) remains a major global health challenge. Accurate and rapid diagnosis is essential for effective treatment and control of tuberculosis (TB). Methods: This study involved testing 1477 suspected cases of MTB using the GeneXpert diagnostic method. The cases were categorized into MTB positive, MTB negative, relapse, and follow-up (FUP) cases. MTB positive cases were further classified based on bacterial load into low, medium, and high levels. Results: Out of 1477 suspected cases, 313 (21.2%) were confirmed as MTB positive, while 1037 (70.2%) were MTB negative. Additionally, 11 cases (0.7%) were identified as relapse, and 16 cases (1.1%) as follow-up. Among the 313 MTB positive cases, 121 (38.7%) had a low bacterial load, 117 (37.4%) had a medium bacterial load, and 70 (22.4%) had a high bacterial load. Conclusion: The GeneXpert method effectively diagnoses MTB and categorizes bacterial load, which is crucial for guiding treatment strategies. The significant proportion of MTB positive cases underscores the importance of rapid and accurate diagnostics in TB management. Understanding bacterial load distribution aids in tailoring patient-specific treatment plans, while the identification of relapse and follow-up cases highlights the need for continuous patient monitoring. This study emphasizes the necessity of advanced diagnostic tools and personalized treatment approaches to effectively manage and reduce the burden of tuberculosis.