Epidemiology and biological diagnosis of tuberculosis in Beni-Mellal

Introduction : Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem, particularly worrying in developing countries such as Morocco. The aim of this study is to describe and analyze the epidemiological and microbiological data of tuberculosis in Beni Mellal during the year 2020.

Methods : This is a retrospective descriptive and analytical study, conducted at the Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (CDTMR) in Beni-Mellal. It is a study carried out over 12 months between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, and based on declarative data from the CDTMR of BENI-MELLAL.

Results : Our work involved a total of 700 samples, including 140 cases of tuberculosis have been confirmed. Tuberculosis affected all age groups, especially adults between 35 and 54 years (57.9%), males were the most dominant (75.71%) with a sex ratio of 3.12, and 61.4% of our patients were of urban origin. Immunodeficiency was present in 26.3% of cases, and the notion of tuberculosis contagion was found in 16.1% of cases. Most patients were clinically symptomatic (92.6%), and radiological examination was performed in 83.1% of cases. Pulmonary involvement was the most dominant (85%). Tuberculosis was confirmed by basilloscopy (BAAR research) in 69.3% of cases, and by GèneXpert in 45.85% of cases. Rifampicin resistance was found in 4 patients with a rate of 4.26%. We recorded 5 patients lost to follow-up, which represented 3.6% of the total number of patients declared positive. Pulmonary tuberculosis significantly affected patients with a history of immunosuppression (p = 0.004), and the notion of contagion (p < 0.001) more than others. The results of our study are consistent with those found at the regional and national levels.

Conclusion : Despite these remarkable results, progress in the fight against tuberculosis in Morocco remains largely influenced by several socio-economic and environmental determinants. A combination of efforts within a multisectoral framework, in line with the national strategy aimed at eradicating this scourge by 2030, remains essential