Retrospective Microbiological Analysis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Diagnosed by Smear Microscopy and Molecular Assays in Garhwa District, Jharkhand (2022–2024)

Shwapnil Pandey

Pulmonary tuberculosis; Smear microscopy; Truenat; CBNAAT; Rifampicin resistance; Garhwa; NTEP

Background & Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge in India, particularly in rural districts with limited diagnostic access. Molecular assays, including Truenat and cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification tests (CBNAAT), have been implemented under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) to improve detection and enable early identification of rifampicin resistance. This study aimed to evaluate trends in pulmonary TB diagnosis using smear microscopy, Truenat, and CBNAAT at Sadar Hospital, Garhwa district, Jharkhand, between 2022 and 2024. Methods: This retrospective laboratory-based analysis was conducted using routine programmatic data for all presumptive pulmonary TB cases tested from January 2022 to December 2024.. Data were obtained from Designated Microscopy Centre registers, Truenat and CBNAAT laboratory records, and the NIKSHAY portal. Positivity rates for each diagnostic modality were calculated, and rifampicin-resistant cases were documented. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise findings. Results: A total of 118,573 presumptive pulmonary TB cases were evaluated. Smear microscopy detected 10,281 cases in 2022 (53.7%), declining to 897 (1.9%) in 2023 and 1,126 (2.16%) in 2024. Truenat positivity increased from 338 of 7,071 tests (4.8%) in 2022 to 848 of 3,340 tests (25.4%) in 2024. CBNAAT identified 7 of 24 cases (1 rifampicin-resistant) in 2022, 544 of 1,957 (28 rifampicin-resistant) in 2023, and 501 of 2,018 (33 rifampicin-resistant) in 2024. Males constituted the majority of confirmed cases each year, with fewer female and paediatric cases. Conclusions: There is a clear shift from smear microscopy to molecular diagnostics for pulmonary TB in Garhwa district. CBNAAT consistently yielded higher detection rates and enabled early rifampicin resistance detection. Expansion and optimal use of molecular diagnostic platforms are critical to improving TB case detection and drug-resistance surveillance in high-burden, resource-limited settings.

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"Retrospective Microbiological Analysis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Diagnosed by Smear Microscopy and Molecular Assays in Garhwa District, Jharkhand (2022–2024)", IJSDR - International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (www.IJSDR.org), ISSN:2455-2631, Vol.11, Issue 1, page no.a519-a522, January-2026, Available :https://ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDR2601054.pdf

Volume 11 Issue 1, January-2026

Pages : a519-a522

Paper Reg. ID: IJSDR_306849

Published Paper Id: IJSDR2601054

Downloads: 000213

Research Area: Science and Technology

Country: -, -, India

Published Paper PDF: https://ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDR2601054

Published Paper URL: https://ijsdr.org/viewpaperforall?paper=IJSDR2601054

ISSN: 2455-2631 | IMPACT FACTOR: 9.15 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2016

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