Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36159642›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology2022

Detection of differentially culturable tubercle bacteria in sputum from drug-resistant tuberculosis patients.

Bhavna G Gordhan, Astika Sewcharran, Marothi Letsoalo, Thilgavathy Chinappa, Nonhlanhla Yende-Zuma, Nesri Padayatchi, Kogieleum Naidoo, Bavesh D Kana

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Beyond culturability: VBNC-like and differentially culturableFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Clinical Strains ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024
    Article
  5. Eradication of Drug-TolerantMicroorganisms · 2023
    Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Bhavna G GordhanDepartment of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis (TB) Research, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Astika SewcharranDepartment of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis (TB) Research, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Marothi LetsoaloCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Thilgavathy ChinappaCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Nonhlanhla Yende-ZumaCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Nesri PadayatchiCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Kogieleum NaidooCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Bavesh D KanaDepartment of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis (TB) Research, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Several studies described the presence of non-replicating, drug-tolerant differentially culturable tubercle bacteria (DCTB) in sputum from patients with active tuberculosis (TB). These organisms are unable to form colonies on agar but can be recovered in liquid media supplemented with culture filtrate as a source of growth factors. Herein, we undertook to investigate the response of DCTB during the treatment of individuals with drug-resistant TB. A cohort of 100 participants diagnosed with rifampicin-resistant TB were enrolled and prospectively followed to monitor response to therapy using routine culture and limiting dilution assays, supplemented with culture filtrate (CF) to quantify DCTB. Fifteen participants were excluded due to contamination, and of the remaining 85 participants, 29, 49, and 7 were infected with rifampicin mono-resistant (RMR), multidrug-resistant (MDR), or extremely drug-resistant (XDR) TB, respectively. Analysis of baseline sputum demonstrated that CF supplementation of limiting dilution assays detected notable amounts of DCTB. Prevalence of DCTB was not influenced by smear status or mycobacterial growth indicator tube time to positivity. CF devoid of resuscitation promoting factors (Rpfs) yielded a greater amount of DCTB in sputum from participants with MDR-TB compared with those with RMR-TB. A similar effect was noted in DCTB assays without CF supplementation, suggesting that CF is dispensable for the detection of DCTB from drug-resistant strains. The HIV status of participants, and CD4 count, did not affect the amount of DCTB recovered. During treatment with second-line drug regimens, the probability of detecting DCTB from sputum specimens in liquid media with or without CF was higher compared with colony forming units, with DCTB detected up to 16 weeks post treatment. Collectively, these data point to differences in the ability of drug-resistant strains to respond to CF and Rpfs. Our findings demonstrate the possible utility of DCTB assays to diagnose and monitor treatment response for drug-resistant TB, particularly in immune compromised individuals with low CD4 counts.

Indexed as

Mycobacterium tuberculosisTuberculosis, Multidrug-ResistantAgarAntitubercular AgentsHumansMicrobial Sensitivity TestsRifampinSputumAgarAntitubercular AgentsRifampinculture filtrate (CF)differentially culturable tubercle bacteria (DCTB)drug resistanceresuscitation promoting factors (Rpfs)tuberculosis

Identifiers

PMID36159642
PMCPMC9500503

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.