Comparison of Xpert MTB/RIF Assay and the Conventional Sputum Microscopy in Detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Northern Thailand

Table 4

Demographic and clinical characteristics of 27 TB culture-proven patients with positive and negative sputum acid-fast smears.

Characteristic	Positive acid-fast smear ()	Negative acid-fast smear ()	value
Female	5 (27.8)	6 (66.7)	0.097
Age	48.3 (±17.2)	61.7 (±22.8)	0.136
HIV infection	13 (72.2)	7 (77.8)	0.301
Presence of underlying lung disease	5 (27.8)	2 (22.2)	0.395
Presence of fever	14 (77.8)	4 (44.4)	0.083
Duration of illness >7 days	8 (44.4)	4 (44.4)	1.000
Presence of chest pain	3 (16.7)	2 (22.2)	0.726
Presence of dyspnea	4 (22.2)	1 (11.1)	0.636
Presence of cough	17 (94.4)	6 (66.6)	0.093
Hemoptysis	1 (5.6)	1 (11.1)	1.000
Significant weight loss	5 (27.8)	2 (22.2)	0.263
Concurrent extrapulmonary infection	1 (5.6)	2 (22.2)	0.250
Abnormal CXR	17 (94.4)	9 (100)	0.694

Data are presented in number (%), or mean ± SD.