RIFAMPICIN RESISTANCE IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS BY GENE Xpert MTB/RIF ASSAY

Abstract

Objective: Pulmonary Tuberculosis a communicable disease is caused by M ycabacterium tuberculosis (MTB). M.tuberculosis is developing resistance to first line Anti-TB drugs, thus leading to drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (DR-PTB). Our study attempted to determine rifampcin resistance in mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.
Study Design: A cross sectional study.
Place and Duration: Department of Chest Medicine ward-12 JPMC Karachi from October 2015- September 2016. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 220 pulmonary TB suspects (fresh and retreated) on clinical and radiological grounds. A history of contact with MDR- TB patients and previous use of anti-tuberculosis therapy were documented. All sputum samples were analyzed by the Gene Xpert lab.
Results: Among 220 PTB cases 169 (76 to) were MTB positive. Out of 169, 37(219c) were RIF positive. Among RIF resistant cases male to female ratio was 6:1. Primary and secondary RIF resistance were found as 4.74%, 17.169c respectively. Among secondary resistance 11.29c and 5.919a were found defaulters and relapse patients consecutively.
Conclusion: Secondary rifampicin resistant PTB is continuously increasing in our community so early detection of RIF resistance in PTB cases by Gene Xpert RIF/assay is essential for further stoppage of emergence of MDR-PTB.