Comparative Studies of the Methods of Detecting Rifampicin Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis among Tuberculosis Patients Attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the specificity and sensitivity of GeneXpert MTB/Rif and Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) Proportion methods of detecting rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis among Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) positive patients attending the Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) Centre of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano. A total of 150 AFB positive samples were collected and processed according to the guideline given by National TB and Leprosy Control Program (2015) and WHO (2012). The result revealed that rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (RR-TB) from the samples was very high; 66.7% and 60.8% for GeneXpert MTB/Rif and Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) Proportion methods respectively. Cohen’s Kappa (interrater reliability) statistical analysis indicated a substantial agreement between GeneXpert and LJ Proportion specificity and sensitivity (Kappa value = 0.73).