Profile of Samples Analyzed with the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra Assay in Holguín: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a disease of great public health relevance. In Cuba, in 2023, the notification rate was 6.9 per 100,000 inhabitants (105 inhabitants), although Holguín was one of the provinces with the lowest incidence (4.0 per 105 inhabitants). Using the molecular technology of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay, we conducted an exploration of the local epidemiology of the disease.

Objectives: To characterize the results obtained from Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay of samples from Holguín province.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to September 2024 at Holguín Provincial Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Microbiology. Ninety-five biological samples were analyzed, including sociodemographic variables, others related to the type of sample, and the assay result. Statistical analysis included absolute frequency analysis, and the chi-square test was applied to evaluate the results, with significance level of p < 0.05.

Results: The overall positivity rate was 22.1%. A higher prevalence was found in men aged 30 to 59 years. 95.2% of positive cases were sputum samples, and one case showed rifampicin resistance. A significant association was detected between results and variables such as age, sex, sample type, and analyte result.

Conclusions: The Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay proved to be key to optimizing tuberculosis diagnosis in a low-incidence setting. The results underscore those social and demographic factors, rather than age, are crucial determinants of local transmission, highlighting the need to integrate this diagnosis with actions targeting specific vulnerable groups for disease control.