The reliability of rifampicin resistance as a proxy for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a systematic review of studies from Iran

In Iran, patients showing rifampicin (RIF) resistance detected by the Xpert® MTB/RIF assay are considered as candidates for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment. Despite the fact that RIF resistance has been used as a proxy for MDR-TB, little is known about the proportion of isoniazid (INH) resistance patterns in RIF-resistant TB. We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, and other databases up to March 2017 for studies addressing the proportion of INH resistance patterns in RIF-resistant TB in Iran. The data were pooled using a random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q and I 2 statistics. A total of 11 articles met the eligibility criteria. Data analysis demonstrated that 33.3% of RIF-resistant isolates from new TB cases and 14.8% of RIF-resistant isolates from previously treated cases did not display resistance to INH. The relatively high proportion of INH susceptibility among isolates with RIF resistance indicated that RIF resistance may no longer predict MDR-TB in Iran. Therefore, the detection of RIF resistance by the Xpert MTB/RIF assay will require complementary detection of INH resistance by other drug susceptibility testing (DST) methods in order to establish the diagnosis of MDR-TB.