title: Antituberculosis drug resistance patterns in two regions of Turkey: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The emergence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to antituberculosis agents has recently received increased attention owing largely to the dramatic outbreaks of multi drug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients residing in Zonguldak and Kayseri provinces of Turkey with, pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed between 1972 and 1999 were retrospectively identified. Drug susceptibility tests had been performed for isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF), streptomycin (SM), ethambutol (EMB) and thiacetasone (TH) after isolation by using the resistance proportion method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total 3718 patients were retrospectively studied. In 1972-1981, resistance rates for to SM and INH were found to be 14.8% and 9.8% respectively (n: 2172). In 1982-1991 period, resistance rates for INH, SM, RIF, EMB and TH were 14.2%, 14.4%, 10.5%, 2.7% and 2.9% (n: 683), while in 1992-1999 period 14.4%, 21.1%, 10.6%, 2.4% and 3.7% respectively (n: 863). Resistance rates were highest for SM and INH in three periods. MDR-TB patients constituted 7.3% and 6.6% of 1982-1991 and 1992-1999 periods (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the importance of resistance rates for TB. Continued surveillance and immediate therapeutic decisions should be undertaken in order to prevent the dissemination of such resistant strains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Karaelmas University Medical Faculty, Kozlu, Zonguldak, Turkey. kartlevent@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kart
authors.forename: Remzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Altin
authors.forename: Meltem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tor
authors.forename: Inci
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gulmez
authors.forename: Sema F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Oymak
authors.forename: Hulusi M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Atmaca
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Erdem