Application of acid-fast staining combined with GeneXpert MTB/RIF in the diagnosis of non-tuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of positive acid-fast staining combined with negative GeneXpert MTB/RIF in diagnosis non-tuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease (NTM-PD).MethodsA total 133 inpatients confirmed NTM-PD were included consecutively between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019, at Tongji Hospital Jinyintan Hospital, Medical College Huazhong University Science Technology, Wuhan, China. One hundred patients tuberculosis (PTB) randomly as control group.ResultsThe sensitivity, specificity, predictive (PPV), (NPV) a result 51.13% (95% confidence interval (CI) 42.52–59.73%), 97.00% CI 93.60–100.40%), 95.78% 90.98–100.57%), 59.88% 52.25–67.51%), respectively. When subjects limited to staining, sensitivity was 88.31% 80.97–95.65%). conducted ≥3 times, this combination method increased 61.67% 49.00–74.33%).ConclusionsPositive could be an effective time-saving for NTM-PD.