Rifampicin Resistance Pattern in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Isolated from Patients Referred to Tehran TB Center

Multidrug- resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) that was at least resistant to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF). World Health Organization reported 399,000-501,000 cases of RIF resistance and they reported this case without knowing about this situation in Tehran. So, it is an important concern.

Descriptive method and research was done on 1000 clinical samples of people suspected of tuberculosis. All the samples were studied in the TB center of the province for microscopic examination and culture. Using the ratio method, the drug sensitivity test to the first- line anti- tuberculosis drug was performed for positive MTB cultures on Löwenstein- Jensen (LJ) culture medium. All isolates resistant and sensitive to RIF were identified by GeneXpert and the prevalence of resistance in the samples was determined and its actual level in the community was estimated. Then, using SPSS software, the level of resistance and factors affecting it were checked.

According to theprevalence in these samples in this research, out of 440 positive samples, 3 positive samples, or 0.07% were resistant.

It seems that resistance to rifampin is not a big problem and is not a cause for concern. As a result, the prevalence of drug resistance in this study area was relatively low. Our suggestion is to conduct more studies in different regions of this country to evaluate the efficiency of GeneXpert and whether it can be useful and effective in Iran.