ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis is an important opportunistic infection in HIV/AIDS. Benue state is the highest HIV endemic state in Nigeria and investigation of tuberculosis cases and Mycobacterial resistance patterns are needed. A retrospective study with a review of reports of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the rifampicin resistance was detected by the Cepheid GeneXpert MTB/RIF system was carried out from July, 2012 to September, 2013 in Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi and Nigeria Airforce Hospital, Makurdi. Pulmonary tuberculosis was detected in 21.5% (n=303/1407) of the total sample. Rifampicin resistance of 13.5% (31/230) and 15.1% (11/73) of the pulmonary tuberculosis positive cases was detected in Federal Medical Centre and Nigeria Airforce Base Hospital respectively, with an average prevalence of 13.9% (42/303). Re-treatment cases comprised 81% (34/42) whereas new cases constituted 19% (8/42) of all Rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis positive cases (X 2 = 6.51; p<0.05). Mean age was 30 years and there was no significant statistical difference in gender. Rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is prevalent in Benue state, Nigeria especially, in the young adults. Therefore, laboratory facilities for rapid diagnosis of the drug resistant M. tuberculosis should be scaled up across the country. This remains an important step to achieve maximal impact in managing drug resistance in Nigeria.