Phenotypic Detection of Rifampicin and Isoniazid Resistance Pattern of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Auramine Positive Isolates in Mtata, South Africa

Abstract

Background: The increase prevalence of Isoniazid (INH) and Rifampicin (RIF) resistant Tuberculosis (TB) has become a significant challenge for TB control for over 10 years. Aim: The study assessed the phenotypic detection of rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) resistant pattern of Mycobacteria tuberculosis among patients attending hospitals in Mtata, South Africa. Methodology: Three hundred and fifty (350) patients age between 10-80 years attending Nelson Mandela Hospital Mtata were recruited for the study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Nelson Mandela Hospital Mtata. Sputum specimens were investigated employing Auramin fluorescence microscopy technique. Drug susceptibility testing (DST) was carried out using cultural technique and conventional drugs susceptibility testing method. Results: Result showed that 28.6% of the isolates were positive on culture. For INH testing, 27% were sensitive, 68% were resistant where as 5% had lost viability to INH. For RIF, 28% were sensitive, 69% were resistant and 3% had lost viability to RIF. The rural settlers has 55% INH resistance and 26% RIF resistance while in urban area 35% and 25% were resistance to RIF and INH respectively. Conclusion: Result from this study showed that INH and RIF resistance were very high among the patients attending Nelson Mandela Hospital and other treatment centers in Mtata, South Africa.