Diagnostic Advances in Childhood Tuberculosis-Improving Specimen Collection and Yield of Microbiological Diagnosis for Intrathoracic Tuberculosis

Eric Wobudeya (1) , Maryline Bonnet (2) , Elisabetta Ghimenton Walters (3, 4) , Pamela Nabeta (5) , Rinn Song (6) , Wilfried Murithi (7) , Walter Mchembere (7) , Bunnet Dim (8) , Jean-Voisin Taguebue (9) , Joanna Orne-Gliemann (10, 11, 12) , Mark P. Nicol (13, 14) , Olivier Marcy (10, 11, 12)

1 MAK - Makerere University [Kampala, Ouganda]
2 TransVIHMI - Recherches Translationnelles sur le VIH et les maladies infectieuses endémiques et émergentes
3 Stellenbosch University
4 Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
5 FIND - Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics
6 University of Oxford
7 KEMRI - Kenya Medical Research Institute
8 Institut Pasteur du Cambodge
9 FCB - Fondation Chantal Biya
10 BPH - Bordeaux population health
11 IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
12 GHiGS - Global Health in the Global South
13 UWA - The University of Western Australia
14 University of Cape Town

There is no microbiological gold standard for childhood tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis. The paucibacillary nature of the disease, challenges in sample collection in young children, and the limitations of currently available microbiological tests restrict microbiological confirmation of intrathoracic TB to the minority of children. Recent WHO guidelines recommend the use of novel rapid molecular assays as initial diagnostic tests for TB and endorse alternative sample collection methods for children. However, the uptake of these tools in high-endemic settings remains low. In this review, we appraise historic and new microbiological tests and sample collection techniques that can be used for the diagnosis of intrathoracic TB in children. We explore challenges and possible ways to improve diagnostic yield despite limitations, and identify research gaps to address in order to improve the microbiological diagnosis of intrathoracic TB in children.

Mots clés: Tuberculosis; Children; Diagnosis; Microbiological tests; Sample collection methods

Domaines: Maladies infectieuses; Pédiatrie; Pneumologie et système respiratoire

Eric Wobudeya, Maryline Bonnet, Elisabetta Ghimenton Walters, Pamela Nabeta, Rinn Song, et al.. Diagnostic Advances in Childhood Tuberculosis-Improving Specimen Collection and Yield of Microbiological Diagnosis for Intrathoracic Tuberculosis. Pathogens, 2022, 11 (4), pp.389. ⟨10.3390/pathogens11040389⟩. ⟨hal-03664622⟩