ArticleBMC infectious diseases2018
Feasibility of the string test for tuberculosis diagnosis in children between 4 and 14 years old.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay for tuberculosis disease and rifampicin resistance in children.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2022Pooled it
- Xpert MTB/RIF and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assays for active tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in children.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020Pooled it
- Diagnostic accuracy of molecular detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pediatric stool samples: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland) · 2019Pooled it
- Sampling strategies for digestive system flora studies: current research and perspectives.PeerJ · 2025Review
- Feasibility and utility of a combined nasogastric-tube-and-string-test device for bacteriologic confirmation of pulmonary tuberculosis in young children.Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease · 2024Article
- String test: a potentially useful tool in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in Brazilian children and adolescents.Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo · 2022Article
- Incident Tuberculosis Diagnoses in Children at High Risk for Disease.Open forum infectious diseases · 2021Article
- Is exclusive breastfeeding for six-months protective against pediatric tuberculosis?Global health action · 2021Article
- Uncovering reasons for treatment initiation delays among children with TB in Lima, Peru.The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease · 2020Article
- Detection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis DNA in Buccal Swab Samples from Children in Lima, Peru.The Pediatric infectious disease journal · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe enteric string test can be used to obtain a specimen for microbiological confirmation of tuberculosis in children, but it is not widely used for this. The aim of this analysis to evaluate this approach in children with tuberculosis symptoms.
methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study to assess children's ability to complete the test (feasibility), and self-reported pain (tolerability). We examined caregivers' and children's willingness to repeat the procedure (acceptability) and described the diagnostic yield of cultures for diagnostic tools. We stratified estimates by age and compared metrics to those derived for gastric aspirate (GA).
resultsAmong 148 children who attempted the string test, 34% successfully swallowed the capsule. Feasibility was higher among children aged 11-14 than in children 4-10 years (83% vs 22% respectively, p < 0.0001). The string test was better tolerated than GA in both age groups; however, guardians and older children reported higher rates of willingness to repeat GA than the string test (86% vs. 58% in children; 100% vs. 83% in guardians). In 9 children with a positive sputum culture, 6 had a positive string culture. The one children with a positive gastric aspirate culture also had a positive string culture.
conclusionAlthough the string test was generally tolerable and accepted by children and caregivers; feasibility in young children was low. Reducing the capsule size may improve test success rates in younger children.
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