GeneXpert MTB/RIF as a diagnostic test for spinal tuberculosis: Systematic review
Erika Reyes Quezada, María Elizabeth Núñez Castillo, Pedro Aleixo Nogueira, Armando Alpizar Aguirre, Tania Arancibia Baspineiro, Julio Cesar Burgos Flores, Andrei Andrei, Eduardo Laos Plasier, Byron Salazar Maldonado, Jorge Salazar Flores, Edson Lizarazu-Oroz, Carlos Antonio Llanos-Lucero, Jose Luis López Segales, Thiago Magalhaes de Souza, Juan Felipe Mier-García, Molina Pizarro, Filadelfo Norambuena, Wilson Quispe-Alanoca, Paulo Gabriel Sacramento da Silva, Juan Camilo Salcedo Moreno, Josselin-María Sanchez Mamani, Felipe Augusto Santos de Queiroz Chaves, Reddy Atilio Simon Nunes, Manuel Eduardo Soto García, Perla Maria Del Valle Oros, Jose Alberto Israel Romero Rangel, Luis Miguel Duchen Rodríguez, Jose Antonio Soriano Sánchez
Abstract
Introduction: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that ranks as the thirteenth cause of death worldwide. As is known, tuberculosis is not only limited to the lungs, but there is a wide range of extrapulmonary pathologies. Current diagnostic methods for spinal tuberculosis are limited by the time factor in order to provide results early and reliably. GeneXpert MTB/RIF is currently available as an alternative, fast and reliable test for pathogen identification. Methodology: This systematic review adheres to the PRISMA [1] criteria. The objective of the systematic review was to analyze the quality of the evidence generated on the topic ”GeneXpert as a diagnostic method for spinal tuberculosis” in the period ”January 2017-August 2022”. The keywords used in PubMed were ”Spinal tuberculosis and GeneXpert. all the articles of evidence level I-IV excluding only comprehensive reviews, selected articles were evaluated with the GRADE system [2, 3, 4] and subsequently a SORT [5] type recommendation was issued in cases where it was feasible. The SORT recommendations were reviewed by consensus by the TB study group using the Delphi system. Results: 5 studies met the search criteria and were included in the review. The 5 corresponded to cross-sectional studies, 4 of these were prospective and 1 retrospective. All studies aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of the GeneXpert test compared to standard reference tests such as culture and histopathology from tissue or pus-like discharge samples. Without being studied, GeneXpert was also found to have a high sensitivity and specificity for identifying rifampin resistance. Conclusion: The GeneXpert test is an efficient and reliable method for the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis. In addition, with the reduction of time in early diagnosis, a timely therapeutic intervention can be carried out and the complications of the disease can be reduced.
Keywords
References
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Publication date:
10/22/2026
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