Tuberc Respir Dis.  2008 Feb;64(2):95-101.

The Prevalence of Initial Drug Resistance among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

• Kong JH
• Lee SS
• Kang HY
• Park JS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) in patients who have not received previous TB treatment (initial drug resistance) is a serious problem for the control of TB. However, prevalence of initial drug resistance among pulmonary TB patients has not been well characterized in Korea, especially in the private sector. We assessed the prevalence of initial drug resistance and evaluated the risk factors for drug resistance in pulmonary TB patients, at a regional tertiary hospital in Cheonan.
METHODS
We performed a drug susceptibility test for both first and second line anti-TB drugs in all culture-confirmed pulmonary TB patients who had not received a previous TB treatment at Dankook University Hospital from September 2005 to September 2007. In addition, we evaluated the initial drug resistance pattern and clinical characteristics of patients to evaluate the risk factors for initial drug resistance. We also assessed the influence of the drug susceptibility test results on the treatment regimen.
RESULTS
Of the total 156 cases where the drug susceptibility test was performed, resistance to at least one anti-TB drug was found in 21 cases (15.6%) and multidrug resistance, where TB was resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, was found in one case (0.6%). Multivariate logistic regression showed no clinical characteristics were independently associated with initial drug resistance. Of the total 156 patients who underwent the drug susceptibility test, the treatment regimen was changed for 15 patients (9.6%) according to the results of the drug susceptibility test.
CONCLUSION
Initial drug resistance is common and the drug susceptibility test is informative for pulmonary TB patients who have not received previous TB treatment.

Keyword

Drug resistance; Initial; Pulmonary tuberculosis

MeSH Terms

Drug Resistance
Drug Resistance, Multiple
Humans
Isoniazid
Korea
Logistic Models
Prevalence
Private Sector
Rifampin
Risk Factors
Tertiary Care Centers
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
Isoniazid
Rifampin

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