Thin-Layer-Agar-Based Direct Phenotypic Drug Susceptibility Testing on Sputum in Eswatini Rapidly Detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis Growth and Rifampicin Resistance Otherwise Missed by WHO-Endorsed Diagnostic Tests.
Xpert MTB/RIF rapidly detects resistance to rifampicin (RR); however, this test misses I491F-RR conferring mutation, common in southern Africa. In addition, Xpert MTB/RIF does not distinguish between viable and dead (MTB).