Prevalence and Treatment Outcomes of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in the Kyrgyz Republic

Atyrkul  Toktogonova; Iliias Zhanybekov; Akylbek Amanbekov; Omusheva Saltanat; Bakyt Toktogaziev

Atyrkul Toktogonova Department of Science, National Center for Phthisiology of MoH Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Iliias Zhanybekov Department of Pathology, International University of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Akylbek Amanbekov Department of Pathology, International University of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Omusheva Saltanat Department of Hospital Pediatrics with a course of Neonatology, I K Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Bakyt Toktogaziev Department of Faculty Surgery, I K Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Keywords: drug resistance, molecular epidemiology, treatment Outcomes, Multidrug-Resistant TB, Extensively Drug-Resistant TB

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant health concern in the Kyrgyz Republic, with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) posing significant challenges. This retrospective study examined the prevalence, epidemiological traits, and treatment outcomes of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), focusing on XDR-TB, in the Kyrgyz Republic from 2019 to 2022.
Methods: This study used national tuberculosis surveillance data covering all administrative regions, health sectors, and prison systems under the National Tuberculosis Program.
Results: Despite the declining number of TB cases during the study period, one in five patients with TB had MDR/XDR-TB, indicating a persistent burden. Coronavirus disease 2019 has affected TB services, leading to a temporary drop in notifications. The proportion of previously treated DR-TB patients increased after 2020, suggesting treatment interruption, relapse, and program failure. Pediatric and female TB cases increased, indicating community transmission and maternal health concerns. XDR-TB isolates showed resistance to bedaquiline and linezolid, threatening the World Health Organization-recommended treatment regimens. Over 20% of XDR-TB cases occurred in untreated patients, suggesting the primary transmission of resistant strains.
Conclusion: Although treatment success rates for rifampicin-resistant TB/M/XDR-TB have improved, they remain suboptimal for XDR-TB. XDR-TB cases clustered in urban areas, highlighting the influence of population dynamics on the transmission.

How to cite this article:
Toktogonova A, Zhanybekov I, Amanbekov A, Saltanat O, Toktogaziev B. Prevalence and Treatment Outcomes of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in the Kyrgyz Republic. J Commun Dis. 2026;58(1):97-103.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202614

References

Government of the Program of the Kyrgyz Republic. Government of the Kyrgyz Republic “Tuberculosis-V”