European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

DEMOGRAPHIC AND PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF DRUG RESISTANT MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS ISOLATED FROM PATIENTS RESIDENT IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

MAC-FIBERESIMA Gborieneomie*, ABBEY Samuel Douglas, WACHUKWU Confidence Kinikanwo and AZUONWU Obioma

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading public health problem worldwide. In Nigeria the burden of TB is high however only a few cases have been reported especially in Rivers State. The aim of this study is to phenotypically characterize Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates recovered from clinical specimens of patients infected with drug resistant tuberculosis. Three hundred and ninety (390) sputum samples were collected from the study participants from six different locations in Rivers State. The samples were received and analyzed by decontaminating with NaOH-Citrate N-acetyl-L-Cystein method before conventionally inoculating them unto Lowenstein Jensen culture slants and incubated at 37ᵒC for 8weeks. Total number of participants were higher in females (61.53%) than in males (38.46%) p<0.05 and there was no significant statistical difference in prevalence of TB with respect to study sites. Participants whose age were between 21-40 years (50.0%) were more vulnerable to the disease p<0.05. The age bracket that was closer amongst others was 41-60 years (32.69%). Also occupation as a risk factor for TB was statistically significant with (P=0.001). TB-HIV co-morbidity among the study participants showed a statistical significance (p<0.05). Highest TB-HIV co-morbidity was seen among age group 21-40 (3.07%). Prevalence of MTB-NTM co-infection was 14.10% and TB morbidity with HIV and NTM highest prevalence among age groups was 16(4.10%) between age 21-40 occurring highest in males 10(2.6%) and age 41-60 as least 2(0.59%) among females 7(1.79%). Of the 390 samples tested, 45(11.53%) were positive for MTB out of which 10(2.56%) were resistant for rifampicin. HIV co-morbidity with TB and NTM is endemic in Rivers State, Nigeria. Non Tuberculous Mycobacterium infection is an emerging neglected tropical disease. All stake holders need to take drastic efforts to control these deadly infectious diseases.

Keywords: Demographic, Phenotypic, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, drug resistance, Rivers State, Nigeria.