Magnitude of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, drug resistance and associated factors among presumptive tuberculosis patients at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

by Melkayehu Kassa, Kassu Desta, Rozina Ambachew, Zenebe Gebreyohannes, Alganesh Gebreyohanns, Nuhamen Zena, Misikir Amare, Betselot Zerihun, Melak Getu, Addisu Gize

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) remains one of the most significant causes of death and a major public health problem in the community. As a result, the aim of this study was to determine magnitude of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, its drug resistance, and associated factors among presumptive tuberculosis (TB) patients at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Cross-sectional study was conducted at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from January to July 2019. Demographic and clinical data were collected by structured questionnaire through face to face interview. Using microscopic examination and GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay and culturing in the Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) culture media, we collected and analyzed both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary clinical samples. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 23. Binary logistic regression was done to identify the associated risk factors and p-value less than 0.05 was taken as significant association.

Of the total 436 respondents, 223(51%) were male. The mean ±SD age of the participants was 38±17years. Overall, 27/436(6.2%) of the participants had confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay and LJ culture media, and two isolates were resistant to RIF and one to INH medication, with two (0.5%) being MDR-TB. MTB infection was associated with previous TB contact history, patient weight loss, and CD4+ T-cell counts of 200-350/mm3 of blood.

The magnitude of M. tuberculosis and MDR-TB in this study underscores the need for improved early case detection and management of MDR-TB in order to reduce transmission and patient suffering.