The Study of Profile of MDR TB Cases Registered in Our DOTS Plus Site

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has emerged as a significant global health concern 1, 2. There are alarming reports of increasing drug resistance from various parts of the globe which potentially threaten to disrupt the gains achieved in tuberculosis (TB) control over the last decade 3. MDR-TB is essentially a man-made phenomenon and arises due to inadequate treatment of drugsensitive TB4. The prevalence of MDR-TB mirrors the functional state and efficacy of tuberculosis control programmes in the country.

Our Institute is a DOTS Plus site. We conducted this study to evaluate the various profiles of patients referred to our DOTS Plus site.

This is a retrospective study conducted by the deptt. of Chest and T.B., G.G.S. Medical College, Faridkot which is a DOTS Plus site. The records of MDR TB patients registered in period between March 2013-April 2014 were studied. We made two groups of patients - new and previously treated cases. We further made subgroups of previously treated cases as treatment failure, relapse and treatment after default according to the RNTCP guidelines.5

69 patients were referred to our DOTS Plus site during that period. Out of 69 patients, 6(9%) patients were new cases and 63(91%) were previously treated cases. Among previously treated cases, 41(65%) patients were relapse cases, 16 (25%) were treatment failure and 6(10%) patients were treatment after default.

MDR TB was much more common in previously treated cases as compared to new cases. So previously treated cases should undergo DST at diagnosis for early detection of MDR TB and their timely start of MDR treatment. It also hampers the transmission of MDR TB in the community.