Article · pages 99–103
Diagnosis of MDR Tuberculosis
Cite this article
C. Wattal, S. Datta. Diagnosis of MDR Tuberculosis. J Int Med Sci Acad. 2005;18(2):99–103.
Opening of the article
Tuberculosis is responsible for 7% of all adult deaths and 25% of preventable adult deaths. Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis strains are viewed as mainly a problem of the developing world and are resistant to at least two drugs, INH and Rifampicin. Acquired resistance or secondary resistance is more common than primary resistance. Primary drug resistance is that when a patient who has not been previously on anti tubercular therapy (ATT) and develops resistance whereas acquired resitance develops while on an inappropriate ATT regimen. The frequency of multi drug resistance varies geographically.