Treatment outcomes of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in Cameroon: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The study analyzed treatment outcomes of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in Cameroon based on 15 studies conducted between 1998 and 2022 with a total of 2,351 participants. Treatment success rate reached 74.2%, with mortality at 6.8%, loss to follow-up at 4.1%, and treatment failure at 5.0%. Modified regimens showed higher success rates (87.2%) compared to standard regimens (68.8%). Among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, adverse drug events occurred in 70.8% of cases, with ototoxicity (41.9%) and gastrointestinal disorders (40.9%) being the most common. HIV co-infection was significantly associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes, as was male gender. The authors recommend strengthening pharmacovigilance and integrated TB/HIV care.