Shamshad Rasul, Iffat Shabbir, Rizwan Lqbal, Masood Ul Haq, Saulat Ullah Khan, Saqib Saeed, Nazir Mirza.
Trends in Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis.
Pak J Chest Med Jan ;7(3):21-8.

Emergence of resistance to anti tuberculosis drugs has drawn World`s attention once again to one of the oldest enemies of human beings - tuberculosis. Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) defined as resistance to at least Rifampicin and Isoniazid, has threatened the on going tuberculosis control activities. There is real danger that tuberculosis may be incurable once more if the current trend of growing drug resistance is not checked. In the present study, we present sensitivity pattern of 228 isolates of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis grown from various samples mostly sputum. Overall resistance to one or more drugs was 52.16%. Highest resistance was observed to isoniazid and rifampicin-25% each, followed closely by streptomycin and pyrazinamide, 24.12% and 2 1.49% respectively. Resistance to ethambutol was 10%, which was lowest amongst the 5 first line anti tuberculosis drugs. Acquired drug resistance was much higher than the primary resistance. The difference was statistically significant for all drugs tested except isoniazid. MDR was 15.78%. Primary MDR was 7.31% and acquired MDR was 25.7%. This difference is statistically significant (p value < 0.001). MDR tuberculosis is increasing in this part of world. Previous exposure to anti tuberculosis Drugs emerged as an important predictor of drug resistance. Measures to improve the treatment completion rates are urgently needed.

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