Clinical and socio-demographic profile, drug sensitivity pattern and treatment outcome of drug resistant DR TB patients registered for treatment at a tertiary care centre in South India

Abstract

Drug resistant tuberculosis is a major threat to TB elimination activities. In our study, we address the clinical, socio-demographic profile, drug sensitivity pattern and treatment outcome of drug resistant TB patients.A record based cross sectional study was conducted in 77 Drug Resistant TB cases registered for standardized treatment at a tertiary care centre in South India from January 2012 to December 2019. The clinical, socio-demographic, radiological characteristics, drug sensitivity pattern and treatment outcome of these patients were recorded. 51 were males and 26 were females. 31 (40.3%) were diabetic, 30 (39%) were tobacco users, 12 (15.6%) were health care workers, 40 (52%) had low BMI and 4 (5.2%) were HIV-TB. 66 (85.7%) showed resistance to isoniazid, 62 (80.5%) to rifampicin, 8 (10.4%) to ethambutol, 9 (11.7%) to Fluoroquinolones, 2 (2.6%) to Second Line Injectables and 6 (7.8%) to Streptomycin. Treatment outcomes were as follows: cured 41 (61%), treatment completed 2 (2.6%), failure 2 (2.6%), lost to follow up 9 (11.7%), regimen changed 3 (3.9%), died 11 (14.3%), not evaluated 2 (2.6%) and treatment stopped due to adverse drug reactions 1 (1.3%). Unfavourable treatment outcomes were associated with low BMI, previous ATT and fluoroquinolone resistance.More than half of the patients had favourable treatment outcomes. Low BMI, previous ATT and fluoroquinolone resistance were factors associated with poor outcomes.