RT-PCR-based diagnosis of infectious diseases with special reference to non- tuberculous mycobacteria in a corporate hospital in Bangladesh

Background Timely detection, prevention, and response to infectious diseases are essential for enhancing quality of life, societal well-being, and reducing healthcare costs. Advanced diagnostics like reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) improve accuracy, mitigate suffering, limit transmission, and decrease mortality. This study evaluated utility of RT-PCR for detecting infectious agents, including Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), to guide clinical decision-making. Methods This retrospective study analyzed infectious disease data from Apollo Imperial Hospitals Ltd., Chattogram, Bangladesh from June 2019 to July 2024. Of 810 anonymized records extracted from the molecular biology laboratory, 786 samples with complete diagnostic information undergoing RT-PCR testing were included after excluding incomplete entries. As a hospital-based analysis, no eligible cases were overlooked beyond incomplete records. Results Among 786 patients (mean age 38.8 ± 19.3 years), 53.7% were female, and 87.1% were adults or elderly. Samples comprised blood (31.6%), tissue (27.2%), body fluids (19.3%), swabs (8.1%), sputum (6.1%), pus (4.8%), and urine (2.8%). Mycobacteria were detected in 6.4% of samples, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB; 2.9%) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM; 3.5%). Overall RT-PCR positivity was 12.7%. Associations between positivity and socio-demographic/clinical factors (e.g., gender, sample type, pathogen) were analyzed, revealing higher NTM than MTB rates, a concern for policymakers, in particular National Tuberculosis Program (NTP). Conclusions Rapid identification and treatment of infectious diseases are essential. NTM warrants particular attention due to symptom overlapping with tuberculosis. The NTP should prioritize accurate diagnostics and management to avert misdiagnosis and inappropriate therapy. Annual NTP and WHO reports should highlight NTM prevalence and challenges to inform policy.