DRUG-RESISTANT MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS - SOME DATA FROM SWEDEN, ESTONIA AND ETHIOPIA

Drug-resistant tuberculosis is a threat not only to the estimated 50 m illion people in the world carrying resistant strains, but also to the success of national TB control programmes. In Sweden, multidrug-resis tant (MDR) tuberculosis comprises around 1% of the isolated strains. I soniazid resistance is found in 7% of strains and resistance to other drugs in <3%. Of patients with resistant TB 70% are born outside Scand inavia. Preliminary data from Estonia show that close to 20% of the st rains are resistant to each of the drugs isoniazid, rifampicin and str eptomycin. MDR is seen in around 16%. In a study in Ethiopia isoniazid resistance was found in 46% and MDR in 11% among treatment failures a nd relapse cases.