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Dissertation Chapters | Microbiology | India | Volume 13 Issue 2, February 2024 | Rating: 4.9 / 10

Utility of Oral Swab in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Garima Kalla | Swapana Kanade | Gita Nataraj

Abstract: Design and setting: Results of MGIT performed on oral swab within one year were compared with results of Xpert MTB/RIF assay done on sputum in Department of Microbiology in a tertiary care centre. Objective: To determine usefulness of oral swab as a specimen in diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Results: Of the total 110 patients tested for tuberculosis, MTB was detected in 31 specimen (28.1%) by any one or more tests. Sputum Xpert assay was positive in 30 patients and oral swab culture was positive in 21. Oral swab microscopy was positive in 11. Concordant results between all the above tests were observed in 85 specimens, i. e., six specimens were positive by all tests and 79 were negative. Sensitivity and specificity of oral swab Amicroscopy and culture in comparison to Xpert assay was 36.66% and 100% and 66.66% and 98.75% respectively. (P = 0.0117). Oral swab culture detected MTB in one additional patient whose sputum Xpert assay was negative. Median time for culture positivity was 24 days. Conclusion: Patients with active pulmonary TB has viable M. tuberculosis organisms on oral mucosa which can be detected by liquid culture. Oral swab culture may be helpful in patients who are not able to produce appropriate sputum sample.

Keywords: Oral swab, Pulmonary TB, MGIT

Edition: Volume 13 Issue 2, February 2024,

Pages: 1241 - 1244