Four hundred newly discovered patients with active sllUtum positive pulmonary tuberculosis were studied for initial drug resistance to some antituberculous drugs in Qualiobia governorate ( urban and rual areas). The initial resistance for streptomycin was 32.5% , for isoniazide was 25%, for ethambutol was 17.5% , for rifampicine was 12.5% and pyrazinamide was 7.5%. The initial resistance to one drug was 40% , to two drugs was 20% and to three drugs was 5% but no resistance was found to four or five drugs. There was no statistical relation between history of contact or extent of the lesion to the incidence of initial drug resistance. From this study it can be concluded that, tbe incidence of initial resistance to SM t INH, ETB, REM and PZA is increasing. This is an alarming challenge hindering tuberculosis control program. It is highly recommended not to use rifampicin, isoniazid or streptomycin except for bactiologically or pathologically proved cases of tuberculosis in order to delay the development of initial resistance to them. |
