Rapid molecular testing for diagnosing tuberculosis in people experiencing homelessness: a scoping review

to map the literature on the use of Rapid Molecular Tests in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in people experiencing homelessness.

this is a scoping review guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. A search was conducted in gray literature databases and websites, and the results were summarized narratively.

the 10 publications included in the scoping review allowed us to categorize the dimensions of Rapid Molecular Test use into cost-effectiveness, including reduction in isolation and hospitalization time; time to implement diagnosis and start treatment; effectiveness in implementing measures and strategies for active tuberculosis case finding; case management based on the repercussions of bacteriological confirmation on therapeutic management; decentralization of diagnosis through strategic location of technologies to increase case detection; and diagnostic efficacy, considering the strong predictive power of the diagnosis.

the use of the test contributed to the early detection of tuberculosis and, as benefits, reduced disease transmission and saved resources. However, many studies conducted with people experiencing homelessness include other vulnerable populations, revealing a significant gap in the literature for this specific group.