TB prevalence in Zimbabwe: a national cross-sectional survey, 2014.

We conducted the first national TB prevalence survey to provide accurate estimates of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB disease among adults aged ≥15 years in 2014. A TB symptoms screen and chest X-ray (CXR) were used to identify presumptive TB cases who submitted two sputum samples for smear microscopy, liquid and solid culture. Bacteriological confirmation included acid-fast bacilli smear positivity confirmed using Xpert MTB/RIF and/or culture.

Recovery of from positive mycobacterium growth indicator tubes stored at room temperature for up to 6 years in low-income and High-Tuberculosis-Burden Country.

Background: Biobanking of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) sputum samples for future research activities recommends the use of -70°C or -80°C freezers. Infrastructure for biobanking is not readily available in the majority of low-income countries. This study aimed to assess the recovery rate of Mtb isolates stored at room temperature for more than 6 years in Zimbabwe.

Stool Xpert MTB/RIF test for the diagnosis of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis at primary clinics in Zimbabwe.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of Xpert® MTB/RIF on stool samples from children with clinical suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) at primary care clinics.

Design: A cross-sectional diagnostic evaluation enrolling 5-16 year olds from whom one induced sputum (IS) sample was tested for microbiological TB confirmation. Results of a single stool sample tested using Xpert were compared against microbiologically confirmed TB, defined as a positive result on sputum microscopy and/or culture and/or IS Xpert.