Rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis among tuberculosis-presumptive cases at University of Gondar Hospital, northwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND Various studies have reported that the emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis poses a significant threat to tuberculosis-control programs worldwide. Rifampicin resistance is a surrogate marker of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, since it reveals the presence of greater than 90% isoniazid resistance. Evidence on rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is scarce in the literature. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis among tuberculosis-presumptive cases at the University of Gondar Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study was conducted at the University of Gondar Hospital from January 2013 to August 2015. Data were collected from registration books using a data-extraction format after securing ethical approval and checking the completeness of necessary information. Data were double-entered and rechecked to ensure accuracy and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics. Associations were assessed using Fisher's exact test, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS A total of 1,820 M. tuberculosis-presumptive patients were included in the study. The majority of the study participants were males (59.2%). The mean age of the participants was 36.6±15.8 years. The preponderant age-group was 24-30 years, with 477 (23.5%) patients. The overall prevalence of M. tuberculosis-confirmed cases was 448 (24.6%, 95% CI 0.23-0.27). Of the 448 M. tuberculosis-confirmed cases, 71 (15.8%, 95% CI 1.12-1.19) were resistant to rifampicin. Rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis was observed among HIV seropositives (14 [18.7%]), males (45[17.3%]), and previously treated tuberculosis patients (61 [16.5%]), although no significant association was found in this study. CONCLUSION The overall prevalence of M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance was found to be high in tuberculosis patients in this study. Therefore, early detection of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis should be strengthened for management of tuberculosis patients.