Prevalence and characteristic of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients in South Halmahera District, eastern Indonesia

<b>Background:</b> Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) remains a high burden disease in Indonesia with approximately 9038 (1.6%) laboratory-confirmed DR-TB cases found in 2018. Decentralization strategy for DR-TB treatment in primary care apllied in rural area. <b>Objectives:</b> Determine the prevalence and characteristics of drug-resistant TB patients in rural areas of eastern Indonesia. <b>Methods:</b> Cross-sectional study used secondary data based on medical records of TB patients on Labuha Hospital South Halmahera, eastern Indonesia from January to December 2019. <b>Results:</b> A total of 160 patients were bacteriologically confirmed TB infection with a rapid molecular test using Xpert MTB/RIF. Drug-resistant TB was found in 13 (8.13%) patient, with median age of 40(16-75) years, 69% were men, with comorbities are 7.7% diabetes and 7.7%HIV. Drug sensitivity test showed 11 patients with multi-drug-resistant TB and 2 patients had pre-extensively drug-resistant. Five(38.5%) patients were primary DR-TB cases and 8(61.5%)patients had previously TB treatment. At the begining of treatment, 11(84.5%) patients had short term regimen(STR), 1 patients had individual all-oral regimen,and 1 patients refused to start treatment. Eight (61.5%)patients continued treatment at primary care. At present, 8(61,5%) patients are continuing DR-TB treatment with 2 patients failed the STR due to additional drug resistance and was replaced by an individual regimen, 4 patients died before treatment completion,and 1 patients loss-to-follow up. <b>Conclusion:</b> Maximizing the expansion and decentralization of DR-TB services are needed in rural and remote areas due to the higher prevalence and mortality of drug-resistant tuberculosis.