Performance of Genexpert in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children in comparison with smear microscopy and MGIT culture and detection of drug resistant cases at HMC, Peshawar

Objectives: To determine the performance of Genexpert in detecting Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in children comparedwith microscopy and MGIT culture and determining the sensitivity pattern of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in childrenat Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.Study Design: This is cross-sectional observational study.Duration and Place: This study was carried out from 1st January, 2019 to 31st December, 2019 at Pediatric B Unit,Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.Materials and Methods: Data was extracted from the database of TBC Center, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.It was analyzed with descriptive statistics using SPSS Version 26 and the results were presented in figures.Results: 274 patients were included in the study. 121 (44.16%) were females and 153 (55.84%) were males. The meanage was 9.77±3.92 years having a range of 1-15 years. 205 had pulmonary disease while 69 patients had extra pulmonarydisease. Among those with pulmonary disease 97 were females and 105 were males. Among extra pulmonary cases24 were females and 45 were males. Smear microscopy was positive in 14 cases, culture was positive in 16 cases andGenexpert was positive in 37 cases. In the cases in whom tuberculosis was detected by Genexpert, 30 (24 females 6males ) had pulmonary disease while 7 patients (6 females 1 male) had extra pulmonary disease. Drug resistance wasdetected in one patient showing resistantance to Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide and Ofloxacin and sensitivity toEthambutol, Amikacin, Kanamycin, Moxifloxacin and Capreomycin.Conclusions: The performance of genexpert is far better than microscopy and culture for the diagnosis of tuberculosisin children and in detecting multidrug resistant disease.