Prevalence of Pulmonary and Rifampicin-resistant Tuberculosis Among Patients Attending Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The prevalence of tuberculosis and Rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RMP-TB) among patients showing symptoms of tuberculosis that visited Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, Nigeria was determined from June 2015 to December 2015. A total of 456 patients comprising 218(47.8%) males and 238(52.2%) females were examined using their sputum and gastric lavage samples. GeneXpert System was used to determine the TB and RMF-TB. Results showed that out of the 456 patients, overall tuberculosis prevalence was 88(19.3%), males recorded 48(10.5%) while females had 40(8.8%). The highest tuberculosis prevalence was recorded amongst 21-30 years and 31-40 years age groups (5.5%). Out of the 456 patients, total prevalence for Rifampicin resistance was 11(2.4%). Of these, females and male prevalence was 6(1.3%) and 5(1.1%) respectively. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in prevalence between age and gender. The treatment and follow-up of existing cases is a key to preventing the spread of multi drug-resistant tuberculosis.