Frequency of Rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis by GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay and its Correlates among 2605 Probable Tuberculosis Patients in Upper Egypt

Faculty of Medicine

Assiut University

Frequency of Rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis by GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay and its Correlates among 2605 Probable Tuberculosis Patients in Upper Egypt

Research Authors
Ebtisam S.A. Hassanin a , Aliae AR. Mohamed Hussein b , Shaimaa S. Abdelrheem c , Ebtehal Dongol d , Ahmed Hamdy Ahmed Mhsb e , Asmaa M. Zahran f , Mohamed Zein g , Islam G. Sayed h
Research Date
Research Department
Department of Chest Diseases
Research Journal
Indian Journal of Tuberculosis
Research Member
Aliae Abd Rabou Mohamed Hussein
Research Publisher
Elservier
Research Vol
70
Research Website
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijtb.2022.09.004
Research Year
2023
Research_Pages
345-355
Research Abstract

Rationale

GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin) assay is a method for detecting rifampicin resistance (RR-MTB) in suspected samples in less than 2 hours with high sensitivity and specificity yield. This study aimed to use the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay to determine the frequency of RR-MTB and to study the possible influencing correlates associated with positive results.

Subjects and methods

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients who visited TB clinic in 5 years (2016–2021). According to the data sheet of the patients, all the collected specimens were divided into 2 parts one for diagnosis by Ziehl–Neelsen stain and the other part for GeneXpert analysis. GeneXpert was also used to look for evidence of RR.

Results

Out of the 2605 total samples screened, 718 (27.6%) tested positive for MTB on GeneXpert assay; of them 633 (88.4%) were sensitive to Rifampicin, 83 (11.6%) were resistant to Rifampicin and 2 cases were undetermined. Factors contributing to RR-MTB were: smoker/ex-smoker, with 2.5 times more risk (p = 0.013.0, p = 0.001); recurrence cases had a 4-fold increased risk (p < 0.001); patients with very low M. tuberculosis detected on the GeneXpert MTB/RIF test were 8 times more likely to have RR-TB (P = 0.004).

Conclusion

This study disclosed a high-rate MTB in Egyptian probable TB cases. Smoking, recurrence and cases with a very low M. tuberculosis burden noticed on the GeneXpert MTB/RIF test had augmented risk of RR-TB.