BackgroundA new rapid Immunochromatographic test kit(SD MPT64TB Ag Kit) for detection of MPT 64 Antigen in M. tuberculosis isolates using mouse monoclonal MPT 64 Antibody developed by SD Bioline, South Korea was evaluated for rapid identification of M. tuberculosis isolates. We also assessed the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of this kit. The test kit has an excellent sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value & positive predictive value. This rapid method is found to be a reliable, rapid and cheaper method for confirming MTB culture isolates in resource poor laboratories. Material/methods: 54 culture isolates of M. tuberculosis in broth & on LJ medium, 12 Non mycobacterial isolates, 10 Non tubercular (NTM) rapidly growing Mycobacteria isolated from pus & 5 smear positive sputum samples were tested for detection of MPT64 antigen using the SD Bioline immunochromatography (ICT)test kit. H37 RV strain was employed as the positive reference control.FindingsH37 RV strain showed the presence of MPT64 antigen band. Similar band was formed in all the 54 MTB isolates tested proving 100% sensitivity. MPT64 band formation was not detected in any of the other test isolates which proved the 100% specificity of the test kit. Both PPV & NPV were 100%.ConclusionTuberculosis is a global pandemic. Rapid identification of MTB culture isolate is very important for drug susceptibility testing. MPT 64 TB Ag detection ICT kit is a rapid, reliable method; it can be a substitute for the molecular identification methods.

Background. TB is a global pandemic disease. All TB control programs were not successful due to the emergence of multidrug resistance in M. tuberculosis strains. Objective of the present study was to detect the rate of MDR-MTB in this part of India. Methods. One hundred and thirty clinical MTB strains isolated from patients on treatment and confirmed as MTB by MPT64 antigen detection were tested for drug susceptibility against Streptomycin, INH, Rifampicin, and Ethambutol by MBBact automated system. Result. Thirty-two were MDRs (25.61%). 31.2%, 28%, 17.6%, and 21.6% were resistant to INH, RIF, Ethambutol, and Streptomycin, respectively. Resistance to either INH or Rifampicin was 20.8% and 13.88%, respectively. Combined INH and Rifampicin resistance was seen in 18.05% isolates. Conclusion. Drug resistance rate is high in patients treated previously and who have been irregular on treatment.

Background India implements universal drug susceptibility testing (UDST) using rapid genotypic tests (cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test CBNAAT - and line probe assay - LPA). to bridge the gap of diagnosis of multidrug/rifampicin-resistant TB. There is limited evidence assessing the implementation of UDST in India. We assessed the implementation among people with pulmonary TB notified from public facilities in October 2019 from Raichur (Karnataka), India. Methods A cohort study involving secondary data in routine programme settings was conducted. All people with TB underwent a rapid genotypic DST for rifampicin resistance followed by first line-LPA (FL-LPA) if sensitive and second line-LPA (SL-LPA) if resistant. Results Of 217 people, 15.7% (n=34) did not undergo rapid genotypic DST. Of 135 who were rifampicin-sensitive detected on CBNAAT, 68.1% (n=92) underwent FL-LPA, and out of the six rifampicin-resistant cases, 66.7% (n=4) underwent SL-LPA. Overall, 65.4% (142/217) completed the UDST algorithm. Children (aged <15 y) and people with bacteriological non-confirmation on microscopy were less likely to undergo rapid genotypic DST. Of 183 patients who underwent both rapid genotypic DST and sputum smear microscopy, 150 were bacteriologically confirmed and, of them, 9 (6%) were ‘rapid DST-negative’. Conclusion We found gaps at various steps. There were a significant number of ‘rapid DST-negative, smear-positive’ patients.

lactamases and aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes (Robert et al., 2006).Although it is considered as one of the commensals of the skin and respiratory tract, it can cause a variety of serious infectious diseases like pneumonia, urinary tract infections, endocarditis, wound infections, meningitis, and septicemia (Peleg et al., 2008). Gram negative bacteria are responsible for more than 30% of hospital

This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author RR designed the study, performed the data acquisition, data analysis, and statistical analysis, wrote the protocol, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript and manuscript review. Author GSVK managed data analysis, statistical analysis, and manuscript review, analyses of study, manuscript editing and review. Authors VJ and RR managed the analyses of the study, manuscript editing and review. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.