Table 1.
Basic demographics of the included studies investigating nontuberculous mycobacteria infection in African HIV patients in the ART era
| Author, published year | Country | Study dates | Study population* | Setting | Median/mean age (range) | Autopsy type | Tissues sampled | Postmortem diagnostic methods† | Study quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bates et al.16 | Zambia | 2011–2014 | All consecutive pediatric inpatient deaths | Hospital inpatient; National University Teaching Hospital | 19 months (12–45 months) | Minimally invasive autopsy | Lungs | ZN stain, histopathology, and PCR | High |
| Martinson et al.17 | South Africa | 2003–2005 | Consecutive adult inpatient deaths with premortem diagnosis of TB | Hospital inpatient; public, tertiary hospital | 34.5 years | Complete autopsy | Brain, lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, adrenals, spleen, and pancreas | ZN stain, histopathology, and culture | High |
| Cohen et al.18 | South Africa | 2008–2009 | All consecutive adult inpatient deaths | Hospital inpatient; regional hospital | 33 years (20–45 years) | Minimally invasive autopsy | Lungs, liver, and spleen | microscopy examination, liquid culture | High |
| Wong et al.19 | South Africa | 2009 | Consecutive adult inpatients receiving ART or eligible for ART | Hospital inpatient; public, tertiary hospital | 36 years (32–40 years) | Minimally invasive autopsy | CSF, liver, spleen, kidneys, bone marrow, heart, skin, lymph nodes, and any accessible masses | ZN stain, histopathology, and culture | High |
| Karat et al.20 | South Africa | 2012–2014 | Consecutive adults outpatient deaths with suspected or diagnosed TB | Hospital outpatient; TB Fast Track Program | 39 years | Minimally invasive autopsy | Liver, spleen, lungs. CSF, oro- and nasopharyngeal cavities, enlarged lymph nodes and skin lesions, urine, and blood | ZN stain, histopathology, culture, and PCR | High |
| Omar et al.21 | South Africa | 2012 | Sampled/selected home deaths who had no apparent cause of death and were not on anti-TB treatment | Home/households | 57 years (44–66 years) | Minimally invasive autopsy | Lungs | ZN stain, histopathology, culture, and PCR | High |
ART = antiretroviral therapy; CSF = cerebrospinal fluid; TB = tuberculosis; ZN = Ziehl–Neelsen.
*
“All consecutive” refers to the inclusion of all patients regardless of the cause of death or premortem diagnosis.
†
PCR/culture results discordant patients were considered to have mycobacterial infection if either PCR or mycobacterial culture was positive for mycobacteria.