%0 Journal Article
%T Drug-resistant tuberculosis: an experience from Qatar.
%A Ali M
%A Howady F
%A Munir W
%A Karim H
%A Al-Suwaidi Z
%A Al-Maslamani M
%A Alkhal A
%A Elmaki N
%A Ziglam H
%J Libyan J Med
%V 15
%N 1
%D Dec 2020
%M 32238120
%F 1.743
%R 10.1080/19932820.2020.1744351
%X This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics, treatment outcome and risk factors associated with 223 drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) cases in the State of Qatar. A descriptive records-based retrospective study was conducted on patients registered at Communicable Disease Centre (CDC), Qatar to all consecutive microbiologically confirmed tuberculosis cases for the period January 2010 - March 2015. Demographic, clinical data, drug-resistance pattern of isolated mycobacteria and treatment outcome was assessed for the patient who completed their treatment in Qatar. Of 3301 patients with positive M. tuberculosis culture were analyzed; 223 (6.7%) were resistant to at least one drug. The overall prevalence of multi-d rug resistant TB (MDR-TB) was 1.2% (n = 38) of patients. A former resident of Indian sub contents was the most common demographic characteristic observed (64.1%). The outcome of treatment was assessed for 85 resistant cases with follow-up after completion of treatment. Cure and relapse rates were 97.6%, and 2.4%, respectively. Drug-resistant TB in Qatar is influenced by migration where the patients were probably infected. Rapid sputum sampling performed in the early stages of the disease, patient isolation, and drug-susceptibility testing should be the standard of care.