HIV-Negative Rifampicin Resistance/Multidrug-Resistant Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in China from 2015 to 2019: A Clinical Retrospective Investigation Study from a National Tuberculosis Clinical Research Center.

BACKGROUND

China is the region with a high global burden of rifampicin resistance/multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (RR/MDR-TB) and low HIV incidence. Our aim was to assess the clinical and demographic characteristics of RR/MDR-extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) from 2015 to 2019 to provide evidence for the prevention and control of the disease in high TB burden areas.

METHODS

We investigated the clinical and demographic data of all MDR/RR-EPTB cases in a TB specialized hospital from China and compared the cases with the MDR/RR-pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients over the same period.

RESULTS

Of the RR/MDR-TB patients enrolled, 15.4 were EPTB. The most common anatomical site was pleural/chest wall (25.9%). Compared with RR/MDR-PTB, females were more likely to be susceptible to RR/MDR-EPTB (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.52-1.77); the risk of RR/MDR-EPTB for 25-44 years group increased (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.52-1.77), and then decreased with the increasing age (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.74-1.69 for 44-65 years group and OR 2.23, 95% CI 0.98-2.71 for ≥65 years group); more likely to be newly diagnosed (p < 0.01) and less likely to to combine with diabetes (P < 0.01), more dependent on GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Xpert, 90.9%) for diagnosis, with significantly higher rates of pre-XDR/XDR and significantly lower favorable treatment outcomes (both p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

There are clinical and demographic differences between RR/MDR-PTB and RR/MDR-PTB. Xper should be recommended at an early stage for suspected patients, and fluoroquinolones should be used cautiously for anti-infective therapy in this population.