Tuberc Respir Dis.  1977 Dec;24(4):133-137. 10.4046/trd.1977.24.4.133.

Analyses of the Sensitivity Test Results to the Secondary anti-Tuberculosis Drugs

• KMID: 2528931
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1977.24.4.133

Abstract

The results of the drug sensitivity to the secondary antituberculosis agents were analyzed from randomly chosen 187 pulmonary tuberculosis patients who have been treated at the National Medical Center from January 1971 through August 1977. The criteria of resistance were adopted as the growth of the following concentrations: ethionamide, 20 mcg/ ml.; ethambutol, 2 mcg/ ml.; cycloserine, 30 mcg/ml.; rifampicin, 10 mcg/ ml.; and Kanamycin, 20 mcg/ ml. Out of 187, only 35 (19%) showed sensitivities to all secondary drugs, and the remaining 152 (81 %) showed resistance to one or more of secondary drugs. Substantial proportions of the patients showed resistance, namely; 59% to ethionamide; 41 % to ethambutol; 45% to cycloserine; 14% to kanamycin; and 15% to rifampicin. This outstanding rate of resistance should be largely due to the lowly adopted criteria of resistance, and partly due to the incorrect statement of previous chemotherapy history made by the patients. Accordingly, repercussions for the criteria of resistance of the National Medical Center will be performed.