Abstract:
Tuberculosis continues to be one of the most prevalent
diseases and is the leading cause of mortality from a
single disease worldwide. In the developing countries the
disease is mainly influenced by poverty while in the
developed world it is influenced by AIDS. In Sudan,
tuberculosis represents a major health problem.
One
hundred
sputum
samples
were
collected
from
suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients at Al Shaab
Teaching Hospital, Abu Anga Hospital and the National
Health Laboratory in Khartoum State during the period
from November 2008 to May 2009.
In this study, male were found to be more affected than
females (67%). All age groups were affected, but with
variable degrees, the age at most risk were found to be
21 – 50 years, which comprised
(72%) patients. The
highest infection rate according to occupation of the
patients was found among labours (29%), where as the
lowest infection rate was found among unemployed
people (7%). The majority of patients came to the above
mentioned health institutions from other states. It was
found that most of the patients were from Western and
Southern Sudan, where the economic and health status
are more deteriorated.
Of
The
100
sputum
samples,
83
gave
growth
Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex , 10 gave
growers and 7 gave no growth.
of
rapid
Isolate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex were
identified according to their ziehl-Neelsen
stain, cultural
characteristics and biochemical proprieties.
Lowenstein Jensen proportion method was used to test the
antimicrobial sensitivity of the 83 isolates of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex against four drugs:
Isoniazid (INH), Rifampicin (RIF), Streptomycin (STM) and
Ethambutol (ETH), only (36%), isolate were sensitive to
the four drugs, (38%) isolates were resistant to INH,
(24%) isolates were resistant to RIF, (37%) isolates were
resistant to STM and (29%) isolates were resistant to ETH,
while (3%) isolates were resistant to INH and RIF,
Resistant to INH + RIF + STM (4%) , INH + RIF + ETH (1%) , INH +
STM + ETH ( 2%) , RIF + STM + ETH (1%) . Twenty two (22%)
isolates were resistant to the four drugs.
The results obtained from this study revealed the existence of Multi-
Drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis among Sudanese TB patients
thus, clinicians should give more attention for treatment follow up.
