[Microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis].

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health challenge, with one-third of the world's population infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• While the global incidence rate of TB is declining, the rate of decrease is less than 1%, highlighting the need for improved control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the current state-of-the-art diagnostic tools for laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis.
• To highlight recent technical progress in mycobacteriology diagnostic services, focusing on speed and quality.

Main Methods:

• Review of current diagnostic techniques for tuberculosis laboratory diagnosis.
• Discussion of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for M. tuberculosis-DNA detection and drug resistance profiling.
• Inclusion of ex vivo interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) for latent tuberculosis detection.

Main Results:

• Microscopy and culture remain the gold standard but are being enhanced by newer technologies.
• NAATs offer rapid detection of M. tuberculosis and drug resistance directly from specimens.
• IGRAs provide a valuable tool for diagnosing latent tuberculosis infections.

Conclusions:

• Significant technical progress has been made in mycobacteriology diagnostics, improving speed and quality.
• Advanced diagnostic tools like NAATs and IGRAs are crucial for effective tuberculosis control and management.
• The integration of these advanced tools can enhance the diagnosis of both active and latent tuberculosis.