Comparative characteristics of the epidemiological situation of chemoresistant tuberculosis in Germany and Ukraine
Authors: Friesen I. , Ulrichs T. , Hryshchuk L. , Saturska H. 
Published: December 2021

Objective — to compare the epidemiological situation of chemoresistant tuberculosis in Germany and Ukraine, in addition analyzing the nature and features of chemoresistant tuberculosis in 192 patients treated at the Ternopil Regional TB Dispensary Ukraine during 2017—2018.

Materials and methods. In order to study the comparative characteristics of the epidemiological situation with chemoresistant tuberculosis in Germany and Ukraine, modern literature sources were used with the search query «epidemiological situation with chemoresistant tuberculosis in Germany», «epidemiological situation with chemoresistant tuberculosis in Ukraine». Separatelly a retrospective cohort study was conducted. The nature and features of the course of chemoresistant tuberculosis in 192 patients who were treated in the Ternopil Regional TB Dispensary during 2017—2018 were analyzed.

Results and discussion. Analysis of literature sources showed that multidrug resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is relatively seldom in Germany with around 100 cases annually. Overall, the epidemiological situation of MDR-TB has been stable since the beginning of the statistical recording of the disease in 2002. In 2013, the highest proportion of MDR TB was registered at 3.3 %. Detailed analysis of notifi cation data shows that the tuberculosis situation in Germany is mainly influenced by migratory movements and demographic changes in the population. Despite the positive overall epidemiological trend with decreasing incidence rates, however, the burden of TB in Ukraine remains significant. According to the latest WHO estimates for 2018, TB incidence in the country(new cases and relapses) is the 4th highest among 53 countries of the WHO European Region.To address the situation, reduce TB prevalence, scale up TB early detection and diagnosis, and ensure effective treatment, Ukraine adopted, in 2019, the 2020–2023 State Strategy for Development of Anti-Tuberculosis Care for the Population.The analysis performed of 192 patients of the MDR/XDR-TB Cohort from the TB-Dispensary Hospital in Ternopil (Ukraine) from 2017—2018, showed that the resistanse of mycobacteria to anti-TB drugs was dominated by cases of MDR-TB — 57.3 %. Among patients first diagnosed were 52.6 %, relapses were 46.4 %. Destruction in the lungs was detected in 71.9 %. 111 patients (57.8 %) had treatment success, and 81 (42.2 %) had poor treatment outcomes or were lost to follow-up.

Conclusions. The epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in Germany is stable and improving. Despite the positive overall epidemiological trend, the burden of TB in Ukraine remains significant. In 2018, TB incidence in the country (new cases and relapses) was 80 per 100 thousands population. In Ukraine during the period (2015—2018), the proportion of «pre-XDR» and XDR cases increased from 47.4 to 51.3 %. Among patients with chemoresistant tuberculosis, MR TB predominates (57.3 %), with destruction in the lungs and only 57.8% are effectively treated.