Development of multi-drug resistance among relapsed tuberculosis drug addicts patients in Punjab Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. It primarily affects lungs with symptoms of cough, chest pain, weight loss, haemoptysis, and fever. Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption, criminal history increases chance of relapse with increases the risk of drug resistance among patients of relapse. Our study was aimed to find a co-relation between relapse and drug abuse along with associated symptoms. Methods and materials: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016–17 on TB relapse patients in Lahore. A deatiled questionnaire was designed to record Information. All the relapsed cases were subjected to L-J culture for drug sensitivity testing against first and second line drugs. Results: The study included 200 relapse patients, [125: non-addicts, 75: addicts (tobacco, alcohol, drugs)]. Out of addicts (75, 42.6%)addicts completed 6 months of AT treatment before relapse as compared to non-addicts (125, 34.4%). 49.3% (37) of addicts had an imprisonment history. The incidence of MDR and XDR in addicts was 22.6% (17) and 13.33% (10) in addicts while 29.6% (37) and 13.6% (17) respectively in non-addicts. Co-morbidities found in addicts and non-addicts were 49.3%(37) and 36%(45) respectively. Co-morbidities were common in order of Hypertension (20%1, 21.6%2), Hepatitis B (9.33%1, 5.66%2) and diabetes (26.67%1, 20%2) in study. 1. Addicts 2. Non-Addicts Conclusion: Drug addicts have a high potential of TB relapse with a notable trend of Multi and Extensive drug resistance. Awareness should be spread regarding this danger of addiction, to help reduce prevalence of TB.