Epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and evolutive profile of multi-resistant tuberculosis in the city of Bukavu from January 2020 to December 2024.

Abstract

Introduction

Multi-resistant tuberculosis is a silent health emergency in many countries with limited resources, including the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is an important threat to controlling tuberculosis. The objective is to describe the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and evolving profile of multi-resistant tuberculosis in the city of Bukavu.

Methods

This is a multicentric, retrospective, documentary, descriptive, and analytical study conducted in five general reference hospitals in the city of Bukavu, with TB-MR units, over a period of five years, from 2020 to 2024. The analyses were made using the SPSS software.  

Results

The prevalence was 1.3 %; The most represented age group was 35-44 years, or 36.7 %. The symptoms most presented during admission were cough, Fever, physical asthenia, anorexia, and nocturnal sweat. The nutritional state was characterized by thinness with a BMI <18.5 to 53.0%; The history of tuberculosis was noted in 75.5%. Alcohol and tobacco consumption were found, respectively, in 42.8% and 32.6%. A short therapeutic scheme was administered at 81.6 %; Levofloxacin, amikacin (91.8 %) were the most administered drugs; Healing was observed in 59.2%, and death in 16.3%; Young age was associated with a favorable evolution of TB-MR patients with a p p-value <0.002). The history of TB is associated with an unfavorable evolution of TB-MR patients (p-value = 0.015). HIV infection was associated with an unfavorable development (p-value <0.001). Family and/or community support was associated with a favorable evolution of TB-MR patients (p value = 0,000).

Conclusion

Multi-resistant tuberculosis remains frequent in the city of Bukavu and constitutes a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The involvement of all actors: health authorities, caregivers, and the community in the management of sensitive cases and the proper use of anti -anti-tuberculosis drugs remains essential.