Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant TB Among Smear-Positive Pulmonary TB Patients in Banadir, Somalia: A Multicenter Study

Abstract

Background Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that is the second most common cause of death from a single infectious agent. TB infection affects anyone, regardless of age, gender, and ethnicity. Drug-resistant TB is a serious public health problem, which needs treatment with a second-line anti-TB drug and it includes poly-drug resistance (PDR), multi-drug resistance (MDR), and extensive drug resistance (XDR). The goal of this research is to find out the prevalence of MDR TB among pulmonary TB patients in Banadir, Somalia. Methods This was a multicenter retrospective review of data involving 1732 smear-positive pulmonary TB patients visiting Banadir TB centers between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. Demographic, clinical, and drug susceptibility data were retrieved from TB treatment cards. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software (IBM SPSS Statistics version 26). Results All 1732 pulmonary TB cases were previously diagnosed by the Gene Xpert MTB/RIF test. Among them, 70.4% (1219/1732) were males. The mean age was 31.77 years. Overall, the prevalence of drug resistance TB was 10.56% (183/1732). The MDR TB was 1.96%, poly-drug resistance (PDR) was 0.12%, and extensive drug resistance was 0.06%. Conclusion This study showed a prevalence of MDR-TB among pulmonary TB patients, which is similar to some of the eastern African countries.

Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes and Associated Factors in Benadir Somalia. A Multicenter Cohort Study

“…One possible reason for the relatively low treatment success rate is the high prevalence of drug-resistant TB strains in Benadir, Somalia. 4 Drug resistance is a major challenge in TB treatment, as it requires more complex and challenging treatment regimens.…”

“…1 Adult males account for 56% of all cases of TB, whereas adult females account for 33% and children for 11%. 3 , 4 The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the TB causative organism, infects one-third of the world’s population, or roughly two billion individuals. 5 …”

Global prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Considering the ratio of infections among males vs females, one study reported that the split between males and females with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis was 70.4% and 29.6% respectively [ 201 ], In a study conducted in patients with resistant tuberculosis in Ghana, the ratio of males and females was 69.6% and 30.4% respectively [ 202 ], whilst in another study conducted in Egypt, the ratio of males and females was reported as 67.5% and 32.5%, respectively [ 203 ]. Moreover, in a similar research work conducted in Ethiopia 65.3% male and 34.7% female has multi drug resistant TB [ 204 ].…”