Drug resistant tuberculosis: extent of problem and treatment resultsfrom a district in Kerala

Background: MDRTB is a Public Health Problem in India also. DOTS plus is implemented in India to address this problem. This study attempts to reveal the extent of MDRTB problem and treatment results in a District in Kerala namely Malappuram. Methodology: This study is a cross sectional study conducted by collecting and analyzing secondary data from RNTCP registers and reports from 2008 to 2013 available in District TB Centre. Objectives: To study the proportion of MDRTB, outcome of its treatment, the pattern of drug resistance and the prevalence of diabetes among the cases in the District of Malappuram, Kerala. Results and Discussion: Out of 13029 TB cases registered for treatment in the study period, 1099 (8.4%) turned out as MDRTB suspects. Among these suspects 79 were identified as MDRTB. Among these 72 were put on CAT IV treatment. Cases for which treatment results were available shows a cure rate of 46.5%, default rate of 16.3%, failure rate of 9.3% and death rate of 27.9%. Among MDRTB cases 44% were diabetics. HIV is positive for only 2.5 %. Conclusions: Prevalence of MDRTB is low in the District. Cure rate is less than half and Death rate is currently high among MDRTB cases in the District. There is also high prevalence of diabetes among MDRTB cases. Keywords: MDRTB, Drug Resistance, MDRTB Suspects, RNTCP, Cure Rate, Death Rate.