Prevalence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients under intermittent or daily treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence rates of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients under intermittent treatment with those observed in patients under daily treatment.


METHODS
We used World Health Organization data regarding 5,138 patients with active pulmonary TB in Brazil, separated into two groups: patients in the Federal District of Brasília, treated with a one-month daily regimen followed by an intermittent thrice-weekly regimen; and patients in other parts of Brazil, treated with a daily regimen only. The resistance pattern was categorized as primary or acquired, based on the history of previous treatment. Multidrug resistance was defined as resistance to at least isoniazid and rifampin, whereas monoresistance was defined as resistance to only one drug.


RESULTS
The prevalence of primary resistance in the Federal District of Brasília and in the other parts of Brazil, respectively, was as follows: overall, 9.2% and 9.3% (p = 0.94); monoresistance, 6.6% and 6.9% (p = 0.89); and multidrug resistance, 1.0% and 1.2% (p = 0.85). The prevalence of acquired resistance in the Federal District of Brasília and in the other parts of Brazil, respectively, was as follows: overall, 15.8% and 26.8% (p = 0.39); monoresistance, 5.3% and 13.7% (p = 0.33); and multidrug resistance, 0.0% and 10.2% (p = 0.16).


CONCLUSIONS
No significant differences were found between patients treated with an intermittent regimen and those treated with a daily regimen in term of resistance rates.
Alvarez
Tomás Aiza
TA
Universidade de Brasília - UnB, University of Brasília - School of Medicine, Brasília, Brazil.
Rodrigues
Marcelo Palmeira
MP
Viegas
Carlos Alberto de Assis
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D000995:Antitubercular Agents