title: Tuberculosis in Greece: bacteriologically confirmed cases and anti-tuberculosis drug resistance, 1995-2009.
abstract: The Greek National Reference Laboratory for Mycobacteria is a major source of tuberculosis (TB)-related data for Greece, where the TB burden and epidemiology still need to be better defined. We present data regarding newly diagnosed TB cases and resistance to anti-TB drugs during the last 15 years in Greece. Although the total number of newly detected TB cases has declined, cases among immigrants are increasing. Resistance to first-line anti-TB drugs is widely prevalent, although stable or declining. The implementation of an efficient and effective countrywide TB surveillance system in Greece is urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory for Mycobacteria, Sotiria Chest Diseases Hospital, Athens, Greece. dpapaventsis@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papaventsis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karabela
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ioannidis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Konstantinidou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marinou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sainti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanavaki
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009313:National Health Programs; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin