PREVALENCE OF RIFAMPICIN RESISTANCE AND PROBES IDENTIFICATION OF 81BP RRDR RPO-B GENE IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS OF DISTRICT BANNU, PAKISTAN

Background: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in developing countries due to the emergence of drug resistance against conventional anti-tuberculosis drugs. Rifampicin is considered to be one of the most potent first-line anti-TB drugs but in most cases, it has lost its efficiency due to bacterial resistance. The objective of this study was to detect the prevalence of rifampicin-resistance and probe mutation in 81bp RRDR of the rpo-B gene in Pulmonary TB patients of District Bannu, Pakistan. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Bannu Medical College, Bannu from March 2021 to June 2021. The samples were collected for the period from January 2014 to December 2018 and the laboratory tests were performed at the District TB facility DHQ hospital Bannu, Pakistan. A total of 1965 sputum samples were processed by Xpert MTB/RIF assay using the standard N-Acetyl-L-cysteine–NaOH technique. Results: Among total 1965 processed cases 1382 were MTB positive and the prevalence of rifampicin-resistant detected (RRD) cases among 1382(70.33%) MTB detected pulmonary isolates was 75(5.6%). The mutation detected in 81bp rpo-β Gene was highest in probe E; 42(56%) followed by B; 16(21%), D 09(12%), A 04(5.3%), C 2(2.66%) and B&D/E&D; 01(1.33%). Conclusion: From the current study, it has been concluded that the prevalence of RRD in Bannu, Pakistan was 5.6% and the most common probe having the highest mutation rate was probe E; 56% followed by B; 21%, D; 12%, A; 5.3%, C; 2.66% and B&D/C&D; 1.33%.