Line Probe Assay for Rapid Diagnosis of Multidrug Resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Bassuony, Nancy Abdulmonem; Zaghloul, Wafaa Saad; Abou Elela, Mohammad Ahmad; Elbadrawy, Mohamed Khairy; Moemen, Dalia

doi:10.21608/ejmm.2023.279737

Line Probe Assay for Rapid Diagnosis of Multidrug Resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Document Type : Review articles

Authors

¹ Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

² Chest Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

10.21608/ejmm.2023.279737

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a serious public health problem with ultimate concern in the developing countries, including Egypt. In the global TB report issued in 2021 by World Health Organization (WHO), infection caused by the tubercle bacilli Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) represents the 13^th chief cause of mortality worldwide. Effective MDR-TB control counts on the accuracy and rapidity of its diagnosis in order to start the proper treatment regimen and as a result limit the transmission of the resistant isolate. Line probe assay (LPA) and GeneXpert MTB/RIF are two WHO approved probe based molecular assays for rapid detection resistant MTB isolates via screening its nucleic acid for any mutations. For the purpose of finding mutations linked to rifampicin resistance using DNA probes, both techniques focus on the same 81 bp Rifampicin Resistance Determining Region. Line probe assay can detect both rifampicin and isoniazid resistance, thus can detect isoniazid mono resistant isolates, which requires special management protocol, in addition to detecting MDR-TB isolates as well with high sensitivity and specificity.

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