RAPID DETECTION OF DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS BY DIRECT NITRATE REDUCTASE ASSAY IN RESOURCE POOR SETTINGS
Dristi Halwai*, Rajendra Gurung and S. K. Bhattacharya
ABSTRACT
Background: The most common method for detection of drug resistant tuberculosis is conventional proportion method requiring three months to yield the results. Delay in the proper diagnosis may hinder the effective treatment and increase the transmission of the drug resistant tuberculosis. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate nitrate reductase assay (NRA) as a simple and rapid alternative method for detecting drug resistance tuberculosis in resource limited settings. Methods: A total of fifty eight new smear positive sputum samples were processed as per the standard guidelines. After decontamination, sputum samples were inoculated on NRA medium for rapid drug susceptibility testing and conventional culture medium. Results: NRA detected 13.2% isoniazid resistance, 11.3% rifampicin resistance and 5.7% multidrug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A total of 44 samples yielded results within 21 days and 19 samples yielded results in 14 days. The mean duration for detection and drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by NRA was 19.2 days. Conclusions: The present study concludes that NRA is a simple and rapid alternative method for detection of drug resistance to isoniazid and rifampicin in resource strain settings.
Keywords: Drug resistant tuberculosis, nitrate reductase assay, tuberculosis.
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