Epidemiology and Patterns of Drug Resistance in Pulmonary Tuberculosis in East Azerbayjan

Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has been lead to complexity in succesfull treatment of Tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of first and second line drug resistance on pulmonary TB pateints and study their demografic and clinical links. In a cross-sectional study in 2011-2012, 105 Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (M.TB) pateints were collected randomly from east azerbayjan province of Iran. After full clinical history and physical evaluation, standard proportion method was performed for detection of drug resistance in M.TB pateints. Frequency distribution of the M.TB in various parts of the city was significantly different. The total prevalence of resistance to any drug was 8.57% (6.1% in new cases and 33.3% in previously treated cases). Two (1.9%) patients were MDR-TB and a case was Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR). In the multiple logistic regrassion analysis, odds of resistance to one or more TB drug was significantly more in retreatment group than newly diagnosed group (OR=7.7). Frequency of resistance to Streptomycin (5.7%) was the highest and resistance to Etambutol was the lowest (0.95%). Sputum (88.3%) and coughing (86.4%) were the most common symptoms. Monitoring of drug resistance status by rapid teqnniques is necessary and crucial on patients with previous history of TB. Unexpected distribution of the disease in different parts of the city indicates the need for other studies.