Epidemic characteristics and drug resistance of tuberculosis in North China

Heliyon. 2020 Sep 16;6(9):e04945. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04945. eCollection 2020 Sep.

Abstract

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and drug resistance of tuberculosis (TB) patients in northern China. The epidemiological characteristics of 620 patients with tuberculosis from 2014 to 2016 were analyzed, including gender, age, occupation, education, income, place of residence and time distribution. 148 strains were identified as mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, 46 of 148 strains were identified as resistant strains, and among of which 73.91% of mono-resistance rate, 17.39% of poly-resistance rate, and 8.70% of multidrug resistant rate. Most of the patients were male, farmers, and the age of between 40 and 60, primary education background, income of 5000-10000RMB/year and newly diagnosed patients. The resistance rates of the four first line anti-tuberculosis drugs ranked as S (streptomycin)>R (rifampicin)>H (isoniazid)>E (ethambutol). 12 drug resistance spectrums were found, among them, mono-resistance was mainly concentrated in S (45.65%), poly-resistance was mainly concentrated in H + S (8.70%), and multidrug resistance was mainly concentrated in H + R (4.35%). Therefore, middle-aged people, male, farmers, education for elementary or junior high school, and new patients with incomes not exceeding 10000RMB/year will be the key population for prevention and control in the future and the main drug-resistant population. This is particularly relevant for controlling infection sources, community prevention and control, and drug resistance treatment.

Keywords: Antimicrobial; Drug resistance; Epidemic character; Epidemiology; Infectious disease; Microbiology; Public health; Tuberculosis.