Sae Pol, Pooja Shah, Vaishali Gaikwad, Sujata Dharmshale, Mansi Rajmane, Rajesh Karyakarte,
Volume 19, Issue 1 (4-2025)
Abstract
Background-COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020 and though cases are reported till now, major cases were seen till January 2022. During this pandemic,the whole healthcare system was diverted into COVID-19 patient care. Both Tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 are diseases of respiratorysystem, and it is important to study impact of COVID-19 on Tuberculosis. The main objective of study is- To detect the M.tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance before, during and after COVID-19 restrictions were fully released.
Material and methods- Pulmonary and extra pulmonary samplesfrom 1st January 2018 till 31st December 2022(five years) were included in the present study. The period was divided as-
2018,2019 – BeforeCOVID-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 Tuberculosis section were subjected to CBNAAT. Samples were processed according to manufacturer’s guidelines.
Results- There was no significant difference in samples received per year from 2018-2022. The positivity of M.tuberculosis decreased from 22.52%in pre-COVID-19 period to 15.70% in COVID-19 period with restrictions and increased again in 2022(16.80%). Rifampicin resistance was also decreased from10.40% to 6.89% in COVID-19 period with restrictions. Decrease in positivity was not observed in Extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases.
Conclusion –Restrictionsimposed during COVID-19 period could decrease Tuberculosis as well as rifampicin resistance. Thus implication of restrictions for TB suspected and positive patients on regular basis can help in preventing spread of the disease.
