ArticlePloS one2025
Trends and treatment outcomes of drug resistant tuberculosis in Limpopo Province, South Africa (2011-2019): A Retrospective Study.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Bridging the Gap Between Treatment and Accountability: DR-TB Outcomes and Governance Signals in Rural Eastern Cape, South Africa (2020-2024).Infectious disease reports · 2026Article
- Epidemiological Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Limpopo Province, South Africa (2020-2024).Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2026Article
- Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics Associated with Treatment Outcomes Among Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients in Limpopo Province.Infection and drug resistance · 2026Article
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2 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundDrug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) continues to threaten TB control efforts in South Africa, particularly in resource-limited provinces such as Limpopo. This study evaluated trends in DR-TB and evaluated treatment outcomes and predictors of unfavorable outcomes from 2011 to 2019.
methodsWe conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using data from 3,528 patients with DR-TB recorded in the Limpopo electronic registry (EDRWeb.net). Descriptive statistics characterized the demographics of the patients and the types of resistance. The associations between variables and outcomes were tested using chi-square analysis and binary logistic regression identified independent predictors of unfavorable treatment outcomes. The study period was stratified into pre-bedaquiline (BDQ) (2011-2015) and post-BDQ (2016-2019) eras to assess the impact of treatment.
resultsRifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) (61.7%) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) (32.5%) were the most common. Overall, the success of the treatment was 59.0%, increasing from 54.1% in the pre-BDQ era to 65.3% after BDQ. XDR-TB had the lowest success rate (31.3%). In multivariate analysis, male sex (aOR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.00-1.27), HIV positivity (aOR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.11-1.47), age ≥ 35 years (aOR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.08-3.76), and XDR-TB (aOR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.65-5.65) were independently associated with unfavorable outcome.
conclusionTreatment outcomes for DR-TB in Limpopo improved following the introduction of BDQ and shorter all-oral regimens but remain suboptimal, particularly among XDR-TB and HIV co-infected patients. Strengthening TB/HIV integration, expanding access to new drug regimens, and enhancing early diagnosis are essential to improve outcomes in rural high-burden settings.
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