OBJECTIVES: Chongqing has a high burden of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB), and the implementation of Chongqing's Stop TB Action Plan (2019-2022) as well as the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic may have affected its distribution. This study aimed to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of RR-TB in Chongqing to provide a reference for identifying priority regions for prevention and control. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study. METHODS: Spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatiotemporal scanning were used to identify spatial and temporal RR-TB distribution patterns. The temporal trend and seasonality of the case series were explored using a time-series analysis. RESULTS: There were 3,114 cases reported during the study period. From 2018 to 2022, the rate of notified cases of RR-TB in Chongqing changed, first increasing and then decreasing
a maximum of 684 cases was reached by 2020. The majority of cases were detected in January through May. Cluster areas were concentrated in the southeastern and northeastern regions, mainly in Pengshui County. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified seasonal trends and spatial and temporal distribution patterns of RR-TB in Chongqing. The southeastern and northeastern parts of Chongqing should be prioritised for control efforts, and further investigations should be conducted to analyse case causes and propose control measures.