Performance of GeneXpert in the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in a Decentralized Area: Example of Hopital De La Paix, in Ziguinchor, Southern Senegal from 2016 to 2018

Introduction: The Xpert MTB/RIF test is one of the innovative responses to the challenges of early diagnosis of tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance. Three years after the arrival of GeneXpert at La Paix hospital, we carried out this study in order to assess its contribution to the diagnostic process. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study focused on suspected tuberculosis patients whose pathological products were analyzed at the unit of microbiology of La Paix hospital of Ziguinchor, Senegal from January 2016 to December 2018. Results: Data from 2137 patients were analyzed. The sex ratio (M/F) was 1.3 and the mean age 41 ± 19 years. GeneXpert performed better in sputum (33.05%) and gastric fluid (25.54%). In 24.30% of cases, the GeneXpert was positive and the smear negative. In 14.86% of cases, the GeneXpert was negative and the smear positive. These cases refer probably to nontuberculous mycobacteria. Therate of resistance to Rifampicin was 3.1%. Male sex and age under 55 were significantly associated with high rates of GeneXpert positivity. Conclusions: The benefit of GeneXpert was evident in the diagnosis of clinical forms of tuberculosis and in the diagnosis of rifampicin resistance.