Genexpert Positivity in Sputum Negative Cases with Clinico-radiologically Suggestive of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Infection in Tertiary Center

Background: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem of word. Nearly 1/3rd of the global population is infected with mycobacterium Tuberculosis. GeneXpert is mainly indicated for early diagnosis and treatment of the pulmonary tuberculosis to prevent the TB related mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study is to study GeneXpert result in sputum AFB negative but clinic-radiologically suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis infection. Methodos: A Quantitative study was carried in the Department of Internal Medicine of National Medical College. A total of 80 cases with clinically and radiologically suggestive of PTB with AFB negative were included in this study. Data were collected for one year period and calculated the result by using SPSS. Result: Among the total 80 patients were included who presented in national medical college Birgunj, Parsa in the time period of 1 year. In this study most common age group who presented with PTB were 31-45 years in 36.3% case with female predominance in 51.2% cases and male predominance of GeneXpert positive in 31 patients. Symptoms observed in our study was Cough>2 weeks, hemoptysis, weight loss, fever, SOB and night sweat among which most common presentation was cough >2 weeks in 81.3% cases with GeneXpert predominantly positive in 44 cases presented with cough >2 weeks. In our study five radiological feature were observed among which most common was pleural effusion in 51 cases, 63.7% cases with predominant GeneXpert positive in 40 cases. Conclusion: GeneXpert testing increases the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis cases and it is also use full to diagnose and confirm the pulmonary tuberculosis in smear negative cases