Abstract
Background Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major public health problems. There are alarming reports of increasing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MTR-TB) from various parts of the globe, including Ethiopia. This study was designed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with MDR-TB among presumptive MDR-TB cases in Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tigray Regional State from 2015 to 2016. Two hundred sputum samples were collected, transported, processed using 2% N-acetyl-L-cysteine-sodium hydroxide, and cultured in LJ medium. Besides, the microscopic examination was performed after ZN staining. Moreover, drug susceptibility test was done using molecular line probe assay. Descriptive statistics and binary and multivariable logistic regression were done. A statistical test was regarded as significant when the P value was <0.05. Results The prevalence of MDR-TB was found to be 18.5%. About one-fourth (26.5%) of the study participants had sputum smear positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). TB culture was positive in 37% of the samples, and rifampicin mono-resistant cases accounted for 3.5% of the presumptive MDR-TB cases. Three (1.5%) were new MDR-TB cases, while the rest had been treated previously for TB. Most (63.5%) of the MDR-TB cases were from 15 to 44 years of age. Age was associated with MDR-TB with a crude odds ratio of 1.06 (CI: 1.02–1.10) and adjusted odds ratio of 1.06 (CI: 1.00–1.11). Conclusions The prevalence of MDR-TB was found to be high. Preventive measures should be taken to prevent the transmission of MDR-TB in the community.
Highlights
IntroductionAbout one-third of the world’s population is infected with M. tuberculosis, and the majority of these infections occur in developing countries [1]
TB is one of the major infectious diseases
The current prevalence is lower than the prevalence in Oromia, Ethiopia (20%) [7]. ough the prevalence of MDR-TB in Oromia Region in Ethiopia appears to be higher, the MDR-TB proportion in culturepositive isolates was only 33%, which is lower than that of the present study which was 50%. e possible explanations for these differences could be due to differences in study designs, target population, specimen quality, and processing
Summary
About one-third of the world’s population is infected with M. tuberculosis, and the majority of these infections occur in developing countries [1]. Anti-TB drugs such as rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, streptomycin, and pyrazinamide have been used to treat the disease. The occurrence of TB is reemerging, associated with human immunodeficiency virus, and resistance to the current anti-TB drugs is becoming a concern [2]. MDR-TB is defined as resistance to at least isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RMP) [3]. Is study was designed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with MDR-TB among presumptive MDR-TB cases in Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia. TB culture was positive in 37% of the samples, and rifampicin mono-resistant cases accounted for 3.5% of the presumptive MDR-TB cases. Preventive measures should be taken to prevent the transmission of MDR-TB in the community
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