The prevalence of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients diagnosed with pulmonary TB at Ngwelezana Hospital. A quantitative cross-sectional retrospective.

Nonduduzo Magubane; Simangaliso  Shangase

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i9.1891

Authors

Nonduduzo Magubane Department of Biomedical Science,Mangosuthu University of Technology
Mr. Smangaliso Shangase Department of Biomedical Sciences Mangosuthu University of Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i9.1891

Keywords:

Multidrug Resistant tuberculosis, TB prevalence, drug resistance, epidemiology of TB

Abstract

Introduction

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which is TB resistant to critical anti-TB drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin, presents a major challenge to tuberculosis treatment, leading to significant public health concerns. The study objective is to evaluate the patterns of antibiotic drug resistance of MTB in patients taking treatment for TB and determine the demographic profile of patients in whom drug-resistant TB is the most prevalent.

Aim

This research aims to determine the prevalence of drug resistance in patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis using retrospective data.

Methodology

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis by analyzing retrospective data from the National Health Laboratory Services for patients diagnosed at Ngwelezana Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal. A sample of 695 participants was included in the study, with 267 (38.4%) males and 428 (61.6%) females. Among these participant’s demographic characteristics of patients tested for TB were evaluated, and an analysis was done to explore the rifampicin susceptibility.

Findings

The study correlation analysis revealed a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between age and gender (ρ = 0.077, p = 0.022). Rifampicin resistance was detected in 5.3% of the tested participants, while 94.7% were found to be sensitive to the drug. The relatively low prevalence of rifampicin resistance is a positive finding, suggesting that first-line TB treatment with rifampicin remains largely effective in this population. However, the presence of any resistance is still a cause for concern, as rifampicin-resistant TB can lead to more complex and expensive treatment regimens, with higher morbidity and mortality rates.

Conclusion

The study's findings indicate the low prevalence of rifampicin resistance, but continuous monitoring is necessary to prevent the spread of resistant strains. Future research should include exploring track changes in rifampicin resistance over time and investigating potential contributors to its resistance.

Author Biographies

Nonduduzo Magubane , Department of Biomedical Science,Mangosuthu University of Technology

Nonduduzo Magubane is a Honours degree graduate in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Mangosuthu University of Technology focusing on determining the prevalence of drug resistance in patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis using retrospective data and evaluating the patterns of antibiotic drug resistance of MTB in patients taking treatment for TB and determine the demographic profile of patients in whom drug resistant TB is the most prevalent.The translation support provided by Simangaliso Shangase who is a lecture at Mangosuthu University of Technology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences is gratefully acknowledged in preparing the final research paper.

Mr. Smangaliso Shangase , Department of Biomedical Sciences Mangosuthu University of Technology

Department of Biomedical sciennces,Lecturer at Mangosuthu University of Technology

Qualification: Master’s in Health Science (Laboratory Science)

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