Frequency of rifampicin-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis by GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay and its correlates among 2605 probable tuberculosis patients in upper Egypt.

RATIONALE: GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin) assay is a method for detecting rifampicin resistance (RR-MTB) in suspected samples in less than 2 hours with high sensitivity and specificity yield. This study aimed to use the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay to determine the frequency of RR-MTB and to study the possible influencing correlates associated with positive results. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients who visited TB clinic in 5 years (2016-2021). According to the data sheet of the patients, all the collected specimens were divided into 2 parts one for diagnosis by Ziehl-Neelsen stain and the other part for GeneXpert analysis. GeneXpert was also used to look for evidence of RR. RESULTS: Out of the 2605 total samples screened, 718 (27.6%) tested positive for MTB on GeneXpert assay; of them 633 (88.4%) were sensitive to Rifampicin, 83 (11.6%) were resistant to Rifampicin and 2 cases were undetermined. Factors contributing to RR-MTB were: smoker/ex-smoker, with 2.5 times more risk (p = 0.013.0, p = 0.001); recurrence cases had a 4-fold increased risk (p < 0.001); patients with very low M. tuberculosis detected on the GeneXpert MTB/RIF test were 8 times more likely to have RR-TB (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: This study disclosed a high-rate MTB in Egyptian probable TB cases. Smoking, recurrence and cases with a very low M. tuberculosis burden noticed on the GeneXpert MTB/RIF test had augmented risk of RR-TB.

Post-COVID-19 functional status: Relation to age, smoking, hospitalization, and previous comorbidities.

RATIONAL: Recently, a new "Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) scale" is recommended in the current COVID-19 pandemic. It is proposed that it could be used to display direct retrieval and the functional sequelae of COVID-19. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to assess the PCFS and to evaluate if age, gender, smoking, hospitalization, and comorbidities have any effect on functional limitations in recovered COVID-19 patients. METHODS: A total of 444 registered confirmed COVID-19 patients were included. They were interviewed in our follow-up clinics and filled an Arabic translated PCFS scale as well as their demographic and clinical data. RESULTS: Eighty percent of COVID-19 recovered cases have diverse degrees of functional restrictions ranging from negligible (63.1%), slight (14.4%), moderate (2%), to severe (0.5%) based on PCFS. Furthermore, there was a substantial variance between the score of PCFS with age (P = 0.003), gender (P = 0.014), the duration since the onset of the symptoms of COVID-19 (P < 0.001), need for oxygen supplementation (P < 0.001), need for intensive care unit (ICU) admittance (P = 0.003), previous periodic influenza vaccination (P < 0.001), smoking status (P < 0.001), and finally, the presence of any comorbid disorder (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the COVID-19 recovered cases have diverse degrees of functional restrictions ranging from negligible to severe based on PCFS. These restrictions were affected by age, gender, periodic influenza vaccination, smoking, duration since symptoms onset, need for oxygen or ICU admittance, and finally the presence of coexisting comorbidity.