title: Alarming drug-resistance rates for tuberculosis in Süreyyapaşa Hospital, Turkey.
abstract: The susceptibility patterns to 'classic' tuberculous pleuritis can reflect the circulating strains in a society. The records of patients with 'classic' tuberculous pleuritis were reviewed retrospectively. Eighty-six patients were selected who were hospitalized between January 1990 and April 1994. Pleural fluid and tissue samples of patients were cultured in Lowenstein-Jensen medium. The isolated strains were subjected to drug susceptibility testing based on the absolute concentration method. We obtained 40 positive cultures in 86 patients with 'classic' tuberculous pleuritis. The resistance rate was 75% to one or more drugs, 27.5% to two drugs, 15% to three drugs, and 10% to four drugs. The resistance rates to isoniazid, rifampicin, streptomycin, and ethambutol were 32.5, 55,42.5 and 32.5%, respectively. The resistance to isoniazid + rifampicin was 7.5%. Our findings indicate that the resistance rates for 'classic' tuberculous pleuritis are considerably high, reflecting the currently circulating resistance patterns in our region. The best regimen for new tuberculous cases and the appropriate regimens for drug-resistant cases should be designed and conducted by a nationwide institution.
authors.affiliation: Süreyyapaşa Center for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tahaoğlu
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kizkin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hatipoğlu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Güngör
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Partal