Isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Determining Their Susceptibility Patterns to Rifampicin among Patients Attending Al-Kuwayfiya Teaching Hospital for Chest Diseases

Among 627 sputum samples analyzed from 2021 to 2023, 322 (51.3%) were confirmed as pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). This study, conducted at Al-Kuwaifiya Specialized Teaching Hospital in Benghazi, Libya, identified 2022 as the year with the highest number of cases (38.5%). A significant majority of patients were male (76%), and most were Libyan (68.6%), followed by Sudanese nationals (16.1%). Rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) was detected in 37 cases, representing 11.5% of all confirmed TB patients. This resistance was more prevalent in males and was most common in the 34–43-year age group. Semi-quantitative analysis via the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay indicated that most positive samples contained a high bacterial load. Furthermore, the incidence of TB was higher during the dry season compared to the rainy season. In conclusion, while the overall TB prevalence was high, the rate of rifampicin resistance was relatively low in this patient population. The findings underscore the critical role of the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay as a rapid and reliable tool for the simultaneous detection of M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance, which is essential for effective treatment and controlling the spread of drug-resistant TB. Keywords: Benghazi, drug resistance, GeneXpert MTB/RIF, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, rifampicin resistance.