Researchers at the University of Pretoria (UP) and the University of Leicester are revolutionising the way tuberculosis (TB) is detected through the invention and application of a 3D-printed insert added to simple face masks. This new approach has the potential to detect millions of currently missed infections across the world.

Designed and printed at Leicester University, the inserts reliably catch and retain live tuberculosis bacteria after people who may be infected have worn the adapted mask for just 30 minutes. This is the first time that exhalation from prospective patients with TB can be captured in such a quick and simple way.

Unlike a blood test, which cannot differentiate between active and quiescent TB, the masks provide rapid detection of captured bacteria, offering a more direct potential indicator of how infectious individuals are compared to traditional sputum samples; they also reduce the need for invasive investigation.

The TB bacterium globally causes more deaths due to infection than any other microbe. According to the World Health Organization, 301 000 people in South Africa fell ill with TB and 64 000 died from it in 2018. TB newly affects 10 million people worldwide, every year.

Professor Anton Stoltz, Head of Department in the Division of Infectious Diseases at UP, said this finding is particularly important because it makes early detection of TB easier and faster. “This is a potentially universal solution that can also benefit underprivileged communities, who still struggle with accessing healthcare. In South Africa when it comes to the treatment of TB, we speak of the ‘missing millions’. These are the people that have TB but aren't aware and are not diagnosed. As a result, healthcare professionals can't get to them. With this new method, we'll be able to test a lot more people, even those not exhibiting symptoms of the disease, and get them treated early. This way, we'll be able to save more lives, because early detection saves lives."

Prof Stoltz said future research would include studying TB in communities, as well as diagnosing TB in children, as these are the areas that are still a challenge to healthcare professionals and scientists.

For the extended version of the article please visit: https://www.up.ac.za/faculty-of-health-sciences/news/post_2874876-pioneering-research-by-university-of-pretoria-and-university-of-leicester-revolutionises-early-detection-of-tb-