title: Relatively low primary resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs in Bangui and Bimbo, Central African Republic.
abstract: METHODS
  The Central African Republic (CAR) is a country with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB). Although its national tuberculosis programme is effective, there is no continuous surveillance system for anti-tuberculosis drug resistance in place.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish base-line anti-tuberculosis drug resistance data to allow for future monitoring of trends and evolutions. More specifically, we aimed at investigating primary anti-tuberculosis drugs in Bangui and Bimbo, two cities of CAR.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 225 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were tested for susceptibility to the anti-tuberculosis drugs commonly used in the country (isoniazid [INH, H], rifampicin [R], streptomycin [SM, S] and ethambutol [EMB, E]). Human immunodeficiency virus co-infection was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall primary drug resistance was found to be 14.7% (33/225). The highest rate of primary resistance was for INH (9.3%), followed by SM (8.4%), and EMB (2.2%). The multidrug resistance rate was 0.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicates that primary drug resistance levels in urban settings of CAR are similar to or lower than in other African cities, and that the spread of multidrug-resistant TB in this population is limited. Extended nationwide monitoring of drug resistance remains important, especially in view of the planned introduction of a new treatment regimen (2HRZE/4HR [Z = pyrazinamide]).
authors.affiliation: Mycobacterial Laboratory, Pasteur Institute, Bangui, Central African Republic.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minime-Lingoupou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manirakiza
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yango
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zandanga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Le Faou
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rigouts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002488:Central African Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents