Prof H. Simon Schaaf is Emeritus Professor and Principal Researcher at the Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University. He is a paediatrician and paediatric infectious diseases subspecialist and has a special interest in tuberculosis in children, especially drug-resistant tuberculosis. He has both extensive clinical and research experience in childhood tuberculosis and has published widely.
Almost 80% of young children managed at a referral hospital with only Xpert Ultra trace-positive results were considered to have TB disease (half having severe TB), confirming that in high TB-burden settings, young children with Xpert Ultra trace-positive results should generally receive TB treatment. A smaller number could be treated for TB infection. Microbiological yield can possibly be improved by obtaining specimens before any TB treatment, and by requesting mycobacterial culture on larger volumes of cerebrospinal fluid specimens.
Source: Conference 2024