Abstract: Objective  To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Henan province. Methods  According to the inclusion criteria defined by the Guideline for the Fifth National Epidemiological Sampling Survey for Tuberculosis, 36 sites were selected in Henan to represent the tuberculosis prevalence in the province, which included 18 prefectures and 36 counties, 2877 cases with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis symptoms and/or abnormal chest were detected among 49 091 people by chest X-ray examination. Sputum specimens were collected from 2877 cases for smear, culture, strain identification and drug susceptibility test to first and second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs, including INH, RFP, EMB, S, PAS, Km, Ofx, Am and Cm. Results  35 smear-positive cases were detected among 2877 cases, and the smear-positive rate was 1.22%. 45 isolated strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from 2875 samples were acquired including 41 Beijing genotype strains(91.11%) and 4 non- Beijing genotype strains, and the culture positive rate was 1.57%(45/2875). The rates of drug resistance and multidrug resistance among pulmonary tuberculosis cases were 28.89%(13/45) and 6.67%(3/45). Conclusion  The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype is dominant in Henan province. Henan province is still a high burden area of drug resistant tuberculosis and needs more effective strategy and measures for tuberculosis control.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary/epidemiology, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bacteriological techniques, Sampling studies, Henan province