Overview of rapid molecular test (RMT)–gene xpert mtb/rif ultra results in pulmonary tuberculosis patients based on the history of therapy

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a health threat that remains a problem both globally and nationally. Indonesia has the world’s second highest number of TB cases. Various examination methods were developed for detecting this disease; one of the most developed is the Rapid Molecular Test (RMT). This study aims to describe the results of a rapid molecular test (GeneXpert) using the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra tool in pulmonary tuberculosis based on a treatment history consisting of new cases, relapse cases, and drug withdrawal cases. The study subjects were 47 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis at Puskesmas Ciwidey, Bandung Regency Health Office, from February to September 2023. The results showed that characteristics of respondents were male (57.4%), female (42.6%), and mostly were aged between 20 and 44 years (53.1%). These results are in line with previous research. The majority of cases (87.2%) were new cases and the most RMT examination results indicated that MTB detected rifampicin sensitivity (78.7%). In new cases, MTB-detected rifampicin sensitivity at 78.1%, MTB-not detected at 19.5%, and MTB-detected rifampicin resistance at 2.4%. In relapse cases, all respondents (100%) showed MTB detected to be rifampicin-sensitive. In drug withdrawal cases, MTB detected 75% rifampicin sensitivity and 25% rifampicin resistance. The results of this study indicate that one possible factor in the occurrence of germ resistance to antituberculosis drugs is inadequate treatment of TB patients, in this case drug withdrawal cases.