Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most devastating complication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Diagnosis of TBM is challenging in young children due to the paucibacillary nature of disease. Microscopy for acid-fast bacilli in CSF is fast but has very low sensitivity whereas culture may take up to 42 days. Due to the urgency of diagnosis in suspected TBM cases, a rapid, accurate diagnostic test could have a great impact on survival. Aims of the study are to prospectively determine the diagnostic accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF in a large consecutive series of samples from patients presenting with suspected Tuberculous meningitis. | Comparative evaluation of genexpert MTB/RIF assay and microscopy for rapid diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children
