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Pol S, Shah P, Gaikwad V, Dharmshale S, Rajmane M, Karyakarte R. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis. mljgoums 2025; 19 (1) :19-21
URL: http://mlj.goums.ac.ir/article-1-1843-en.html
URL: http://mlj.goums.ac.ir/article-1-1843-en.html
Sae Pol1 
, Pooja Shah1 , Vaishali Gaikwad2 , Sujata Dharmshale3 , Mansi Rajmane1 , Rajesh Karyakarte4
, Pooja Shah1 , Vaishali Gaikwad2 , Sujata Dharmshale3 , Mansi Rajmane1 , Rajesh Karyakarte4
1- Department of Microbiology, BJ Medical College, Pune, India
2- Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Satara, India
3- Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Baramati, India
4- Department of Microbiology, BJ Medical College, Pune, India ,karyakarte@hotmail.com
2- Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Satara, India
3- Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Baramati, India
4- Department of Microbiology, BJ Medical College, Pune, India ,
Abstract: (895 Views)
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease of the respiratory system that spreads when a patient coughs, sneezes, or spits. COVID-19, another respiratory disease, created havoc in 2020 and 2021. During this pandemic, the whole healthcare system was diverted into COVID-19 patient care. It is important to determine what the status of TB was during the COVID-19 period. This study was mainly undertaken to detect the occurrence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) and rifampicin resistance before, during, and after COVID-19 restrictions were fully released.
Methods: Pulmonary and extrapulmonary samples from 1st January 2018 till 31st December 2022 were included in the present retrospective study. The period was divided as- 2018, 2019 - Before COVID-19 2020, 2021 -COVID-19 period with restrictions (Such as use of masks, social distancing, avoiding gatherings) 2022 -COVID-19 period without restrictions. All samples received in TB section were subjected to Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT). The samples were processed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Results: There was no significant difference in samples received per year from 2018 to 2022. The positivity of M. tuberculosis decreased from 22.52% in the pre-COVID-19 period to 15.70% in the COVID-19 period with restrictions and increased again in 2022 (16.80%). Rifampicin resistance decreased from 10.40% to 6.89% in the COVID-19 period with restrictions. A decrease in positivity was not observed in extrapulmonary TB cases.
Conclusion: In the present study, total samples for TB received over five years were relatively the same. Restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 period could decrease TB and rifampicin resistance. Thus, imposing restrictions on TB-suspected and positive patients regularly can help prevent the spread of the disease.
Methods: Pulmonary and extrapulmonary samples from 1st January 2018 till 31st December 2022 were included in the present retrospective study. The period was divided as- 2018, 2019 - Before COVID-19 2020, 2021 -COVID-19 period with restrictions (Such as use of masks, social distancing, avoiding gatherings) 2022 -COVID-19 period without restrictions. All samples received in TB section were subjected to Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT). The samples were processed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Results: There was no significant difference in samples received per year from 2018 to 2022. The positivity of M. tuberculosis decreased from 22.52% in the pre-COVID-19 period to 15.70% in the COVID-19 period with restrictions and increased again in 2022 (16.80%). Rifampicin resistance decreased from 10.40% to 6.89% in the COVID-19 period with restrictions. A decrease in positivity was not observed in extrapulmonary TB cases.
Conclusion: In the present study, total samples for TB received over five years were relatively the same. Restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 period could decrease TB and rifampicin resistance. Thus, imposing restrictions on TB-suspected and positive patients regularly can help prevent the spread of the disease.
Research Article: Original Paper |
Subject:
Microbiology
Received: 2024/07/24 | Accepted: 2024/12/31 | Published: 2025/06/25 | ePublished: 2025/06/25
Received: 2024/07/24 | Accepted: 2024/12/31 | Published: 2025/06/25 | ePublished: 2025/06/25
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