EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF DRUG-RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS IN PATIENTS FROM PARANÁ, 2022–2024

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) represents an important public health problem and one of the greatest challenges for TB control worldwide. Thus, the objective was to describe the sociodemographic, clinical, and therapeutic profile of DR-TB cases in the state of Paraná. Descriptive, cross-sectional study with a retrospective approach. All DR-TB notifications in the disease notification information system between 2022 and 2024 were eligible. The indicators evaluated were: age group, sex, race, schooling, area of residence, type of entry, TB form, sputum smear microscopy at diagnosis, and drug susceptibility testing results for anti-tuberculosis drugs. The analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and simple frequency, using the Statistical Package for the Social Science, version 22.0. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CAAE no. 73429023.6.0000.5231). Between 2022 and 2024, 256 DR-TB cases were reported in the state of Paraná. Most were adults aged 19–59 years (87.5%), male (71.9%), White (54.3%), with schooling up to nine years (48.8%), residents of urban areas (91.4%), with type of entry as a new case (66.8%) who had never undergone TB treatment or had done so for up to 30 days, with confirmed pulmonary TB (93.4%), with positive sputum smear microscopy at diagnosis (52.3%), with a detectable rapid molecular test (TRM-TB) sensitive to rifampicin (69.5%), and drug susceptibility testing resistant only to isoniazid (55.9%). The findings show predominance of young adult male patients, living in urban areas and with low schooling. In addition, new TB cases, with pulmonary TB as the most predominant form, detectable and sensitive to rifampicin and resistant only to isoniazid, highlights the need for early diagnosis, since DR-TB prolongs treatment time, impacting the affected person socioeconomically and increasing the likelihood of treatment interruption. Furthermore, adequate treatment, strengthening rational use of antimicrobials and evaluation of the social determinants involved, and encouragement of new therapeutic technologies are important strategies in preventing DR-TB.