Diagnostic Utility of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra in Abdominal Tuberculosis: A Prospective Observational Dataset

This dataset provides diagnostic data collected during a prospective observational study aimed at evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay for abdominal tuberculosis (TB).
The study was conducted at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, India, between September 2019 and March 2021.
A total of 144 patients with clinico-radiological features of abdominal TB were enrolled.
Key findings across demographic, clinical, radiological, endoscopic, microbiological, and histopathological domains were systematically recorded.
Patient specimens (lymph node aspirates, tissues, pus, other aspirates, body fluids) were analysed using Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, direct fluorescence microscopy, liquid culture (BD MGIT 960 system) with backup solid culture (Löwenstein-Jensen medium), and histopathology, as applicable.
Key variables in the dataset include:
• Patients’ age and gender distribution
• Sites of sample collection
• Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra results (including rifampicin resistance status)
• Phenotypic and genotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) results
• Smear and culture results
• Histopathology results
• Results of other diagnostic modalities (i.e., radiological, endoscopic, biochemical)
• Treatment response
This dataset allows for the analysis of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra's diagnostic performance using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and overall accuracy, in comparison with TB culture and a composite reference standard (CRS).
CRS was defined as either a positive TB culture, or positive results in at least two of the following modalities: imaging or endoscopy suggestive of TB, elevated ascitic fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels (>39 IU/mL), a positive acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear, presence of granulomas on histopathology, or clinical with radiological and endoscopic improvement after 3 months of empirical anti-tubercular therapy.
It is intended to facilitate secondary analysis, comparison with other diagnostic assays, and meta-analytical reviews.
Applications:
• Diagnostic performance assessment
• Comparative studies of TB diagnostics
• Educational resource for medical microbiology or infectious disease training
All patient data were anonymised in compliance with ethical standards and institutional ethics committee.