Diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis: challenges and promises
- Author:
Noraini Philip
;
Timothy William
;
Daisy Vanitha John
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
tuberculous meningitis;
diagnosis;
culture;
smear;
PCR;
GeneXpert
- From:The Malaysian Journal of Pathology
2015;37(1):1-9
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Tuberculosis (TB) which is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects primarily the lungs but
it also affects other parts of the body. Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of
TB and has the highest mortality and morbidity rate compared to other forms of TB. It is common
in young children and HIV-infected patients, but is also seen in adults. Despite anti-tuberculosis
treatment, TBM is still a major cause of death and neurological sequelae as treatment given to the
patients is often delayed. Early diagnosis is challenging due to the non-specific symptoms of TBM
and the low number of tubercle bacilli in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Until now, there is no established
diagnostic method that can rapidly detect M. tuberculosis in TBM patients with high sensitivity and
specificity. The emergence of drug resistant M. tuberculosis strains further complicates the diagnosis
and treatment regimen of TBM. This review summarizes challenges of the currently used diagnostic
methods and the potential future use of molecular diagnostic methods for TBM.
- Full text:P020150911407196333367.pdf
