Prevalence of drug resistance under the DOTS strategy in Hyderabad, South India, 2001-2003.
BACKGROUND
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), defined as resistance to at least isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RMP), is considered a threat to TB control. Implementation of DOTS ensures high cure rates and prevents MDR.


OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence of MDR-TB from a retrospective analysis of the data in a tuberculosis unit where DOTS was implemented over a period of 6 years through public private mix (PPM).


METHODS
Drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis samples isolated from the cultures of newly registered and retreatment sputum smear-positive cases during 2001-2003.


RESULTS
During the study, 909 sputum-positive cases were registered and analysed. Of these, 714 were new and 195 were retreatment sputum-positive cases. INH resistance was found in 3.2% (23) of new and 9.2% (18) of retreatment cases. RMP resistance was present in 1.5% (11) of new and 7.2% (14) of retreatment cases. MDR was present only in 0.14% (1) of new and 2% (4) of retreatment cases. New cases had cure rates of 96% compared to 85% in retreatment cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of MDR-TB is low where success rates are high.
Anuradha
B
B
Immunology Unit, Bhagwan Mahavir Medical Research Centre, Hyderabad, India.
Aparna
S
S
Hari Sai Priya
V
V
Priya
V H S
VH
Vijaya Lakshmi
V
V
Lakshmi
V V
VV
Akbar
Y
Y
Suman Latha
G
G
Latha
G S
GS
Murthy
K J R
KJ
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents