Predictor of multidrug resistant tuberculosis in southwestern part of Ethiopia: a case control study

BACKGROUND: Curable disease tuberculosis is becoming incurable or difficult to treat due to drug resistance. Multi drug resistance tuberculosis is a major health problem for less developed countries. Development of drug resistance is mainly as result of man related factors and poor lifestyle. Identifying predictors of drug resistance and working on them is the important way of reducing the expansion in high burden countries. Ethiopia is one of TB, TB/HIV, and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) high burden country globally. This study was aimed to assess predictor of MDR-TB in southwest part of Ethiopia. METHODS: Unmatched case control study was conducted in case to control ratio of 1:1.2 in southwest part of Ethiopia. The cases were recruited from confirmed MDR-TB patient enrolled on second line treatment in Shenen Gibe Hospital (MDR-TB treatment center of the prefecture) and the controls were recruited from previously TB patients who cured or patient with smear negative at the end of treatment month during the study period in the same area. The data was collected by structured questionnaire by interview and logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of MDR-TB. Odds ratios with 95% CI were computed to determine the predictors. RESULT: From the total 132 participants about 45% of them were cases. None disclosed tuberculosis infected to relatives [AOR = 3.4, 95% CI (1.2–9.8)], insufficient instruction on how to take anti-TB drug [AOR = 4.7, 95% CI (1.4–14.6)], contact history with MDR-TB [AOR = 8.5, 95% CI (2.9–25.5)], interruption of first-line anti-TB treatment for at list 1 day [AOR = 7.9, 95% CI (2.5–24.9)], and having alcohol drinking habits [AOR = 5.1, 95% CI (1.4–18.7)] were identified predictors for MDR-TB infection in study area. CONCLUSION: TB infection disclosure status, insufficient instruction on drug usage, contact history with MDR-TB, interruption of first-line anti-TB drugs, and alcohol drinking habits were identified predictor of MDR-TB case. Therefore, early detection and proper treatment of drug susceptible TB, strengthening directly observed treatment, short-course on daily bases, community involvement, and supporting the patient to intervene identified factors is paramount.