A Five-Year Retrospective Study on the Prevalence and Associated Factors of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Among Tuberculosis Suspected Cases at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia

<i>Background</i>: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health issue in Ethiopia, with a high burden of both pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB cases. The prevalence of TB, including drug-resistant forms, continues to pose challenges, particularly in hospital settings like Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital where both new and relapse cases are reported. This study aimed to determine the five-year prevalence and associated factors of MTB among TB-suspected cases at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from 2020–2024. Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using medical records of 1,850 TB-suspected cases. Data on socio-demographics, clinical presentation, and laboratory results (Gene-Xpert MTB/RIF) were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: The overall MTB prevalence was 23.4% (433/1,850). Significant risk factors included HIV co-infection (AOR=3.12, 95% CI: 2.34-4.16), malnutrition (AOR=2.45, 95% CI: 1.89-3.18), smoking (AOR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.32-2.71), and previous TB treatment (AOR=2.67, 95% CI: 1.95-3.65). Conclusion: The high MTB prevalence underscores the need for enhanced TB screening, particularly among high-risk groups.