Drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Benue, Nigeria.

Tuberculosis is an important opportunistic infection in HIV/AIDS. Benue state is the highest HIV endemic state in Nigeria and investigation of tuberculosis cases and Mycobacterial resistance patterns are needed. A retrospective study with a review of reports of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the rifampicin resistance was detected by the Cepheid GeneXpert MTB/RIF system was carried out from July, 2012 to September, 2013 in Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi and Nigeria Airforce Hospital, Makurdi. Pulmonary tuberculosis was detected in 21.5% (n=303/1407) of the total sample. Rifampicin resistance of 13.5% (31/230) and 15.1% (11/73) of the pulmonary tuberculosis positive cases was detected in Federal Medical Centre and Nigeria Airforce Base Hospital respectively, with an average prevalence of 13.9% (42/303). Re-treatment cases comprised 81% (34/42) whereas new cases constituted 19% (8/42) of all Rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis positive cases (X 2 = 6.51; p<0.05). Mean age was