Drug-resistant tuberculosis in Colombia, 2013-2018: Case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) is difficult to control, has high morbidity and mortality, and demands priority public health intervention. In Colombia, MDR/RR-TB has been becoming more widespread annually. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, over an 8-year period, the number of cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Colombia was close to a thousand cases. Timely identification of the different risk factors for MDR/RR-TB will contribute fundamentally to the systematic management.

OBJECTIVE: To determine which risk factors were associated with the presentation of MDR in Colombia between 2013 and 2018.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was carried out, for which the data from the routine surveillance of MDR/events in the country were used.

RESULTS: The cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis were mainly in young people, Afrodescendants, and males. Of the clinical conditions, comorbidities such as malnutrition, diabetes, and HIV, presence of at least one factor, such as drug dependence, taking immunosuppressive medications, belonging to the black race, afro, and living in an area of high disease burden were risk factors.

CONCLUSION: In addition to the diagnosis and timely provision of MDR-TB treatment, it is necessary that public health programs at the local level pay special attention to patients with the identified risk factors.