Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the contact examination results of patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), their clinical characteristics and risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) transmission.
Methods: Follow-up charts of 34 MDR-TB patients, who are registered in four tuberculosis dispensaries in Diyarbakir and followed-up between January 2000 and December 2008 were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: The mean age of MDR-TB patients was 32.3±14.2 years. Among the person who in contact with MDR-TB index patients, 7 (20.6%) of them had TB while overall 9 contact persons developed TB disease. No significant differences were found in gender distribution, education and social security status, monthly income and past TB history between contact person who developed (n=7) and not-developed (n=27) TB disease (p>0.05).
In 17 (50.0%) of MDR-TB patients inappropriate anti-TB drug prescription and in 14 (41.1%) non-compliance to drug regimen were detected. Inappropriately prescribed anti-TB drugs and delay in TB diagnosis for index MDR-TB patients (18.7 months vs. 9.3 months, respectively; p<0.05) were more frequently encountered among contact persons who developed TB (p<0.05). The mean number of contact person for MDR-TB patients was 4.4 and 1.8 person per patient had been examined. Examination ratios for MDR-TB contact persons who did not developed TB disease was lower than those of TB developed patients (15.6% vs. 50.0%, respectively; p<0.05)
Conclusion: Insufficient follow-up and delay in diagnosis in MDR-TB patients may be significant risk factors on their contact persons; therefore it is necessary to increase the screenings and precautions in these contacts.