title: High prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, Swaziland, 2009-2010.
abstract: In Africa, although emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) represents a serious threat in countries severely affected by the HIV epidemic, most countries lack drug-resistant TB data. This finding was particularly true in the Kingdom of Swaziland, which has the world's highest HIV and TB prevalences. Therefore, we conducted a national survey in 2009-2010 to measure prevalence of drug-resistant TB. Of 988 patients screened, 420 new case-patients and 420 previously treated case-patients met the study criteria. Among culture-positive patients, 15.3% new case-patients and 49.5% previously treated case-patients harbored drug-resistant strains. MDR TB prevalence was 7.7% and 33.8% among new case-patients and previously treated case-patients, respectively. HIV infection and past TB treatment were independently associated with MDR TB. The findings assert the need for wide-scale intervention in resource-limited contexts such as Swaziland, where diagnostic and treatment facilities and health personnel are lacking.
authors.affiliation: Epicentre, Paris, France. elisabeth.sanchez@epicentre.msf.org
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Padilla
authors.forename: Themba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dlamini
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ascorra
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rüsch-Gerdes
authors.forename: Zerihun Demissie
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Tefera
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calain
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de la Tour
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jochims
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Maryline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonnet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D013541:Eswatini / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials