Factors associated with drug resistance in pulmonary tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Drug-resistant tuberculosis is becoming a formidable foe for the mankind as it is difficult to manage. The present study was aimed at studying the factors associated with drug resistance in tuberculosis. METHODS: One-hundred and nine patients from whom mycobacterial growth was obtained on culture were studied. RESULTS: Treatment default was found to be the most important factor associated with drug resistance. Forty-five of the 48 isolates from patients with history of default showed drug resistance. Travel to a different place was the reason for default in 19 of 45 patients with drug resistance. Symptom relief in 12, cost of treament in two and adverse drug effect in 12 patients were the other commonly observed reasons for default. A history of relapse was also found to be associated with drug resistance. Nineteen of the 34 isolates obtained from these patients showed drug resistance. In contrast, drug resistance was seen in only four of the 27 new, untreated patients with mycobacterial growth. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-resistant tuberculosis is a major problem in the control of tuberculosis. Its resurgence should be controlled by scrupulously monitoring and ensuring patient compliance.