Screening outcomes of household contacts of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in Peshawar, Pakistan

ObjectiveTo assess the profile of TB/multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) among household contacts of MDR-TB patients.MethodsClose contacts of MDR-TB patients were traced in the cross-sectional study. Different clinical, radiological and bacteriological were performed to rule out the evidence of TB/MDR-TB.ResultsBetween January 2012 and December 2012, a total of 200 index MDR-TB patients were initiated on MDR-TB treatment, out of which home visit and contacts screening were conducted for 154 index cases. Of 610 contacts who could be studied, 41 (17.4%) were diagnosed with MDR-TB and 10 (4.2%) had TB. The most common symptoms observed were cough, chest pain and fever.ConclusionsThe high incidence of MDR-TB among close contacts emphasize the need for effective contact screening programme of index MDR-TB cases in order to cut the chain of transmission of this disease.