Skip to main content
Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 16, Number 7

Microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay in the diagnosis of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

Buy Article:

$34.78 + tax (Refund Policy)

BACKGROUND: Early detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is of primary importance for both patient management and infection control. Optimal methods for identifying MDR-TB in a timely and affordable manner in resource-limited settings are not yet available.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of a low-technology but rapid drug susceptibility testing method, the microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay (MODS), in the concurrent detection of M. tuberculosis and its susceptibility to isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RMP) directly from sputum specimens.

METHODS: A total of 115 smear-positive TB patients admitted to Abbasia Chest Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, were simultaneously tested using MODS and the BACTEC™ MGIT™ 960 mycobacterial detection system for the detection of M. tuberculosis and the identification of MDR-TB samples.

RESULTS: MODS detected 112 (97.4%) samples and BACTEC MGIT detected 115 (100%). Of the 115 isolates tested for susceptibility to INH, RMP and MDR-TB, complete agreement between MODS and MGIT results was found among respectively 92.9%, 95.5% and 97.3% of samples. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of MODS in the detection of MDR-TB were respectively 95.3%, 98.6%, 97.6% and 97.1%. MODS results were obtained in a median of 8 days (range 5–21).

CONCLUSION: MODS is an optimal alternative method for timely and affordable identification of MDR-TB in resource-limited settings.

Keywords: BACTEC MGIT 960; Egypt; MDR-TB; MODS; Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Ain Sham University, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt 2: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 3: Department of Medicine, Chest Division, Ain Sham University Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt 4: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt 5: Central Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Cairo, Egypt 6: Al-Abbasseya Chest Hospital, Ministry of Health, Cairo, Egypt 7: Chest Diseases Department & National Tuberculosis Program, Ministry of Health, Cairo, Egypt

Publication date: 01 July 2012

More about this publication?

  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

    The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.

  • Editorial Board
  • Information for Authors
  • Subscribe to this Title
  • International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
  • Public Health Action
  • Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Share Content

  • Access Key
  • Free content
  • Partial Free content
  • New content
  • Open access content
  • Partial Open access content
  • Subscribed content
  • Partial Subscribed content
  • Free trial content