800. Drug-Resistant TB: An Experience From Qatar

BACKGROUND: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is an important issue for public health. This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics, treatment outcome, and risk factors associated with 223 DR-TB cases in the State of Qatar. METHODS: A descriptive records-based retrospective study was conducted on patients registered at Communicable Disease Centre (CDC), Qatar to all consecutive microbiologically confirmed tuberculosis cases for the period January 2010–March 2015. Demographic and clinical data extracted included: patient’s age, sex, and country of origin; disease site (pulmonary or extra-pulmonary); presence of comorbidities, HIV/AIDS status, previous chemoprophylaxis and/or previous treatment for TB, and anti-TB drug resistance the resistance pattern of isolated mycobacteria. The sputum culture conversion rate and treatment outcome was assessed for the patient who completed their treatment in Qatar RESULTS: Of 3,301 patients with positive M. tuberculosis culture were analyzed; 223 (6.7%) were resistant to one or more first-line drugs, to isoniazid in 3.1% (n = 102), streptomycin in 1.2% (n = 41), rifampicin in 0.2% (n = 6), ethambutol in 0.15% (n = 5), and multi-drug resistance in 1.2% (n = 38) of patients. Among the resistant TB patients, more common demographic characteristics were former resident of Indian subcontinent (64.1%). A history of anti-TB treatment was not a risk factor with drug resistance in our cohort. Only 111 (49.7%) patients were tested for HIV antibodies and the results were all negative. There was significant correlation between the type of drug-resistance and CXR finding (23.3% had cavity—P = 0.019). Sputum culture conversion to negative at 2 month of therapy was 94% (n = 101), whereas 122 cases lost follow-up. The outcome of treatment was assessed for 85 resistant cases with follow-up after completion of treatment, show cure rate of 97.6%, and relapse of 2.4%. However, 137 cases (61.4% from total) they left the country before completion of therapy. CONCLUSION: Drug-resistant TB in Qatar is influenced by migration, especially from the Indian subcontinent, where the patients were probably infected. Rapid sputum sampling performed in the early stages of the disease, patient isolation, and drug susceptibility testing should be the standard of care to avoid further transmission and improve TB control. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.