Drug-resistant tuberculosis: an experience from Qatar

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics, treatment outcome and risk factors associated with 223 drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) cases in the State of Qatar. A descriptive records-based retrospective study was conducted on patients registered at Communicable Disease Centre (CDC), Qatar to all consecutive microbiologically confirmed tuberculosis cases for the period January 2010–March 2015. Demographic, clinical data, drug-resistance pattern of isolated mycobacteria and treatment outcome was assessed for the patient who completed their treatment in Qatar. Of 3301 patients with positive M. tuberculosis culture were analyzed; 223 (6.7%) were resistant to at least one drug. The overall prevalence of multi-d rug resistant TB (MDR-TB) was 1.2% (n = 38) of patients. A former resident of Indian sub contents was the most common demographic characteristic observed (64.1%). The outcome of treatment was assessed for 85 resistant cases with follow-up after completion of treatment. Cure and relapse rates were 97.6%, and 2.4%, respectively. Drug-resistant TB in Qatar is influenced by migration where the patients were probably infected. Rapid sputum sampling performed in the early stages of the disease, patient isolation, and drug-susceptibility testing should be the standard of care.