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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Diagnosing Pulmonary Tuberculosis with the Xpert MTB/RIF Test
Published on: April 9, 2012
Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) - a potential threat in Ireland
Anne Marie Mc Laughlin1, Rory A O'Donnell, Noel Gibbons
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, CREST Directorate, St James' Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland. annemmclaughlin@gmail.com
Abstract:
We describe a case of a 25 year old female from Lithuania who presented with a productive cough. Chest radiograph demonstrated an infiltrate in the left upper lobe and a cavitating lesion in the right middle lobe. Sensitivity testing of her sputum led to a diagnosis of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). This is the first case in Ireland and highlights the need for physicians to be aware of the possibility of XDR-TB. Moreover it underlines the need for improvement in service provision in terms of a TB reference laboratory and TB clinics.
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