Ravi Prakash1, Dilip Kumar2, Vinod K Gupta3, Sanjay Jain4, Devendra S Chauhan2, Pramod K Tiwari5, Vishwa M Katoch6. 1. Centre for Genomics, Jiwaji University, Gwalior 474 011, India; School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior 474 011, India; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases, Tajganj, Agra 282 004, India. 2. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases, Tajganj, Agra 282 004, India. 3. District TB Health Society, Gwalior, India. 4. Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programe, District Hospital, Sheopur, India. 5. Centre for Genomics, Jiwaji University, Gwalior 474 011, India; School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior 474 011, India. Electronic address: pk_tiwari@hotmail.com. 6. Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India; Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi 110 029, India. Electronic address: vishwamohan_katoch@yahoo.co.in.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The incidence/prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) is reported to be high in the Sahariya tribe of North Central India. The outbreaks of different drug-resistant isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs. This study aimed to assess the profile of multidrug resistant TB among the Sahariya tribe and their non-tribal neighbors for first line drugs through field-based investigations. METHODOLOGY: A total of 274 sputum positive pulmonary TB individuals were enrolled and studied for their drug susceptibility profile by the proportion method. RESULTS: A total of 21 cases from Sahariya and 6 from non-tribes were identified with MDR-TB. Thus Sahariya tribe showed a 1.95-fold increased risk of developing drug resistance than non-tribes. Significant differences were observed for developing drug sensitivity between Sahariya males and females when analyzed for resistance developed to any drug and overall drug resistance vs. sensitive isolates, respectively. A 4.46-fold risk was found for MDR-TB among the smokers of Sahariya tribe, whereas, the non-tribes did not show any significant association. CONCLUSION: The drug susceptibility profile developed in the present study indicates that drug-resistant tuberculosis is emerging as a serious public health concern in Sahariya tribe. Urgent and effective control measures and better management policies are needed for the prevention of MDR-TB in the tribe.
BACKGROUND: The incidence/prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) is reported to be high in the Sahariya tribe of North Central India. The outbreaks of different drug-resistant isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs. This study aimed to assess the profile of multidrug resistant TB among the Sahariya tribe and their non-tribal neighbors for first line drugs through field-based investigations. METHODOLOGY: A total of 274 sputum positive pulmonary TB individuals were enrolled and studied for their drug susceptibility profile by the proportion method. RESULTS: A total of 21 cases from Sahariya and 6 from non-tribes were identified with MDR-TB. Thus Sahariya tribe showed a 1.95-fold increased risk of developing drug resistance than non-tribes. Significant differences were observed for developing drug sensitivity between Sahariya males and females when analyzed for resistance developed to any drug and overall drug resistance vs. sensitive isolates, respectively. A 4.46-fold risk was found for MDR-TB among the smokers of Sahariya tribe, whereas, the non-tribes did not show any significant association. CONCLUSION: The drug susceptibility profile developed in the present study indicates that drug-resistant tuberculosis is emerging as a serious public health concern in Sahariya tribe. Urgent and effective control measures and better management policies are needed for the prevention of MDR-TB in the tribe.