Abstract
Introduction: Incidence of drug resistance to Mycobaterium tuberculosis is increasing with with the emergence of Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) and Extensively Drug Resistant (XDR) strains1.
Aim: To study drug resistance patterns in patients with MDR tuberculosis attending the outpatients' clinic at a tertiary care center.
Methodology: Sputum of 32 patients, previously diagnosed as MDR tuberculosis was tested for culture and drug sensitivity to first and second line anti-tubercular drugs by Bactec MGIT 960 TB System 2.
Results: Resistance patterns obtained.
A high incidence of drug resistance to first line drugs was noted. Amongst the second line drugs, high percentage of resistance to quinolones, cycloserine and ethionamide was observed. 6/32 (18.75%) patients had XDR TB.
Conclusion: The study highlights a very high percentage of drug resistance to first and second line anti tubercular drugs amongst patients with MDR TB.
References:
1. WHO Tuberculosis MDR- TB and XDR -TB 2011, progress report.
2. Novel and Improved Technologies for Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Progress and Challenges, Clin Chest Med 30 (2009) 701 - 716.
- © 2012 ERS
