To evaluate the efficacy of the mantoux test and sputum smear examination as a diagnostic aid in tuberculosis

Introduction: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent for tuberculosis. It spread when people with tuberculosis cough, sneeze or spit which spread through air. Despite being a preventable and curable disease, 1.5 million people die from TB each year – making it the world’s top infectious killer. Most of the people who fall ill with TB live in low- and middle-income countries, but TB is present all over the world. About half of all people with TB can be found in 8 countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines and South Africa.
Material and Method: A prospective observational study was conducted among 100 patients with suspected tuberculosis. The patients were subjected to all three diagnostic tests including the Mantoux test, sputum examination, and CB-NAAT. CB-NAAT was considered as the gold standard for TB diagnosis. Results of the Mantoux and sputum tests were compared with CB-NAAT to assess the sensitivity and specificity of individual tests.
Result: Mantoux test was positive in 39% and negative in 61%, in sputum examination 41% patient tested positive whereas 59% were negative, and in CBNAAT 78% samples were positive and 22% were found to be negative. Sensitivity analysis of Mantoux test and sputum examination were compared with CB-NAAT result which considered as the gold standard for tuberculosis diagnosis. In the Mantoux test 35% were true positive while 6% whereas false positive, 19% were true negative while 40% were false whereas in sputum examination 37% were true positive while 5% were false positive, 21% were true negative while 37% were false negative.
Conclusion: The combination of the Mantoux test, sputum smear, and CB-NAAT test when performed together acts as an aid in diagnosing tuberculosis and also help in assessing the immunity status of the persons with latent tuberculosis. It all helps in follow the treatment protocol to cure the diseased case and to prevent the progress of the latent case to disease.