The article Performance of stool Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among adults living with HIV: a multicentre, prospective diagnostic study, led by Dr Alberto García-Basteiro, head of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology of Hospital Clínic Barcelona, researcher at ISGlobal and coordinator of the tuberculosis research area at the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM, Mozambique), has received the 3rd Fernando Albericio Award. The award, granted by ACE Southern Africa, recognises the best scientific article published by a Spanish researcher in the region.
The jury particularly valued the study's methodological rigour, its reach across three countries in Southern Africa and its potential to improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis in people with HIV. The award is presented at the 5th Spain – Southern Africa Research Forum, held on 12 November in Cape Town (South Africa).
A stool test to detect more cases of tuberculosis
The study, published in April 2025, was carried out within the Stool4TB consortium, funded by the European Union, and included 677 adults with HIV and suspected tuberculosis in Eswatini, Mozambique and Uganda. Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, and diagnosing it is difficult because standard tests rely on sputum, a sample that many of these patients are unable to provide.
The results show that the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra molecular test applied to stool samples can complement current tests: it identified cases that were not detected by other tests and performed better in patients with the most weakened immune systems, who are at the highest risk of dying from the disease.
About the Fernando Albericio Award
The Fernando Albericio Award, organised by the Association of Spanish Scientists in Southern Africa, recognises each year the best scientific article published by one of its members. A jury made up of Spanish researchers and representatives of official Spanish bodies in the region assesses aspects such as the study's relevance to the region, the impact of the journal, innovation and the future applicability of the results. The first edition recognised Dr Alfredo Mayor, researcher at ISGlobal and CISM, for a study on malaria surveillance based on first antenatal care visits.
Reference article: Kasule GW, et al. Performance of stool Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among adults living with HIV: a multicentre, prospective diagnostic study. The Lancet Microbe. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.lanmic.2025.101085
