Xpert MTB/RIF: a game changer for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children?

The diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in young children is challenging because clinical and radiological features are often non-specific.1 Achieving a definite diagnosis through microbiological confirmation is especially problematic in this population owing to the typically low bacillary burden and the difficulty in obtaining a quality respiratory specimen. For adults, WHO has endorsed a single Xpert MTB/RIF assay for initial diagnosis, especially in people with HIV and in those with suspected drug-resistant tuberculosis.