Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is transmitted through airborne particles when individuals with active pulmonary TB cough, sneeze, or speak. Tuberculosis continues to pose a serious threat to public health in Nigeria, with Rivers State being a high-risk area owing to factors such as population density, urbanization and Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Tuberculosis (HIV/TB) co-infection rates. Despite the availability of diagnostic and treatment facilities at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), there is limited evidence on the actual burden of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among patients accessing care at this tertiary institution. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis among patients attending Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). A total of one hundred and eighty-six (186) sputum samples were collected from patients (89 from children and 97 from adults) who presented themselves to RSUTH for tuberculosis screening. The sputum samples were examined using the GeneXpert technique (Cepheid). The results obtained showed that the prevalence rate of tuberculosis among patients who attended RSUTH was 14.5%. The prevalence rate within the children aged 0-14 years was 7.8%, while the prevalence rate within adult population was 20.6%. This study also showed that adults had a significantly higher TB infection rate than children (p = 0.01). In conclusion, this study confirms the high burden of tuberculosis within the study population, with a significant disparity in infection rates between adults and children. Necessary preventive measures like avoiding overcrowded space and good personal hygiene should be adopted to prevent the spread of tuberculosis disease.