Predictors of multidrug resistant tuberculosis among adult patients at Saint Peter Hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION The emergence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has become a major public health concern that threatens advances made in global TB control efforts. Though the problem is prevalent, it did not receive major attention to generate supportive evidence for the prevention and control of MDR-TB. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of MDR-TB in a national TB referral centre in Ethiopia. METHODS An unmatched, case-control study was conducted at St. Peter Hospital to assess risk factors associated with MDR-TB. The study included 103 culture proven, MDR-TB patients referred to the hospital during the study period (cases) and 103 randomly-selected TB patients with confirmed TB who turned negative after treatment (controls). Regressions analyses were used to determine the association of variables. RESULTS The mean age among cases and controls was 30.5 (±9.26) and 34.73 (±11.28) years, respectively. The likelihood of having MDR-TB was 20.3 times higher among those who had a any previous history of TB treatment (AOR=20.3 [CI 5.13, 80.58]), 15.7 times higher among those who had TB more than once (AOR=15.7 [CI 4.18, 58.71]) compared those who had once, 6.8 times higher among those who had pulmonary TB (AOR=6.8 [CI 1.16, 40.17]) and 16.1 times higher for those who had experienced treatment with a Category II regimen (AOR=16.1 [CI 2.40, 108.56]). HIV infection was less common among cases than controls. CONCLUSION This study concluded that special attention should be given to patients with a history of the following: TB more than once, presence of pulmonary TB, and used a Category II treatment regimen, as these were all determining factors for MDR-TB. Thus, this study urges the development and implementation of well-planned and integrated strategies for MDR-TB control and prevention in Ethiopia.