Low levels of second-line drug resistance among multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Rwanda.
BACKGROUND
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has become a therapeutic problem in many parts of the world, necessitating the inclusion of second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs in specific treatment regimens.


METHODS
We studied the susceptibility of 69 MDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Rwanda to second-line drugs by the BACTEC 460 method.


RESULTS
The results showed that 62 (89.9%) were resistant to rifabutin while a low rate (4.3%) of resistance was registered for ofloxacin; there was one case (1.4%) of resistance each for para-aminosalicylic acid, kanamycin, ethionamide, and clarithromycin.


CONCLUSIONS
This information is important for devising an appropriate treatment regimen for MDR-TB patients in order to stop the spread of MDR strains and contain the acquisition of additional drug resistance in Rwanda.
Umubyeyi
A
A
Department of Microbiology, CHU St Pierre, Brussels, Belgium. alainenyaruhirira@hotmail.com
Rigouts
L
L
Shamputa
I C
IC
Dediste
A
A
Struelens
M
M
Portaels
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005000:Ethionamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007612:Kanamycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012432:Rwanda; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007612:Kanamycin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D017291:Clarithromycin; D005000:Ethionamide