Epidemiology and outcome of rifampicin resistant tuberculosis in Upper Egypt

Abstract

Context Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a worldwide health problem. Its presence generally reflects poor tuberculosis control. Adequate knowledge about social and epidemiological factors and their interaction is required for its control. Aims To describe incidence, demographic data, and risk factors of DR-TB in Upper Egypt and to determine its outcome. Patients and methods A total of 186 patients suspected to have tuberculosis either pulmonary or extrapulmonary were screened for tuberculosis. All patients were subjected to full history, direct Smear by Ziehl–Neelsen stain, Xpert MTB/RIF assay, and Lowenstein–Jensen culture (as the gold standard). Patients were classified into non-drug-resistant group (non-DR-TB) and rifampicin-resistant group (TB-RR). Results Of the included TB cases, the incidence of DR-TB was 10.2% (nine cases). Approximately 66% of TB-RR cases were between 19 and 48 years old. Overall, 55.6% of them were males. TB-RR was found more in rural areas and less in educated cases compared with non-DR-TB. TB-RR was also common in farmers, housewives, and smokers. Overall, 33.3% of TB-RR cases were detected after failure category 1 and 33.3% were detected after failure category 2, whereas only one case was new. Mortality rate in TB-RR was 22.2%. Conclusion In Upper Egypt, TB-RR is common in middle age males, noneducated persons, and in rural areas. TB-RR is more common in patients with a previous history of treatment. Treatment outcome of DR-TB is good comparable to previous studies.