JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY ISSN:1598-2467(Print) 2093-0429(Online)

Background: Culture conversion is a key indicator for monitoring the success of treatment in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), and enables the daily dose of drugs to be adjusted. This study aimed to determine the sputum culture conversion time of MDR-TB patients and their related factors in Niger. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted among MDR-TB patients from 2008 to 2020. GeneXpert, culture, and drug susceptibility tests were performed for each patient. A multivariate logistic analysis was performed to determine factors associated with sputum culture conversion. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 517 patients with MDR-TB followed up in various MDR-TB units in Niger were included. These patients consisted of 83.2% males with a mean age of 34±11.8 years. The frequency of culture conversion after initiation of treatment was 92.8%, with 15.7% in the 1st month and 64.9% in the 2nd month. In multivariate logistic analysis, the predictive factors positively associated with delayed culture conversion were age over 40 years (odds ratio = 3.70; 95% CI: 1.47 - 9.60; p=0.006), death (odds ratio =30.13; 95% CI: 10.61 - 96.72; p<0.001), and resistance to ofloxacin 800 mg (odds ratio =26.37; 95% CI: 6.72 – 108.00; p<0.001). Conclusion: This study underscored a relatively high rate of culture conversion during the intensive phase of treatment among patients with MDR-TB in Niger. High age, death, and ofloxacin resistance were identified as risk factors for delayed culture conversion. These results suggest that early intervention in MDR-TB patients can lead to sputum culture conversion and treatment success.