Drug Resistant Profile Among TB Patients From Haut-Ogooué Region Gabon

Abstract Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) remains a major health concern, especially in high-burden areas like Gabon’s Haut-Ogooué region. This study investigates the prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) and associated factors in the Haut-Ogooué region. Drug resistance poses a significant threat to global TB control efforts. We conducted a retrospective and prospective study at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Franceville from August 2022 to August 2024. A total of 1,792 participants were included. Sputum samples were collected and analyzed using GeneXpert MTB/RIF ULTRA and MTB/XDR assays. Data on demographic characteristics, HIV status, and previous TB treatment history were collected and analyzed using R software. The majority of participants were male (62.1%). Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) was the predominant resistance profile (94.44% of resistant isolates). A significant association was found between previous TB treatment history and drug-resistant TB (p < 0.001). No significant associations were observed between drug-resistant TB and sex or age. A high proportion of participants had unknown HIV status (47.8%), and most resided in urban areas (85.5%). The high prevalence of MDR-TB and its association with previous TB treatment highlight the urgent need to strengthen TB control programs, improve treatment practices, and address the social determinants of TB in Gabon.