RESISTANCE OF MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS COMPLEX TO THE MAIN ANTITUBERCULOSIS DRUGS IN YAOUNDE-CAMEROON

To evaluate the current prevalence of initial and acquired resistance to the main antituberculosis drugs in Yaounde, isolates of M. tubercul osis complex obtained from sputum cultures of 602 adult patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (516 new cases and 86 old cases) consecutively admitted into the tuberculosis centre of Hopital JAMOT from July 1994 to December 1995 were studied. The susceptibility of isolates to the m ajor antituberculosis drugs was tested by the indirect proportion meth od. The overall resistance rate (1 or more drugs) was 35.2%, with init ial resistance 31.8% (164 of 516) and acquired resistance 55.8% (48 of 86). Initial resistance to streptomycin was the most frequent (20.5%) followed by isoniazid 12.4%), thiacetazone (5.6%), rifampicine (0.8%) and ethambutol (0.4%). Initial resistance was noted as 25% to 1 drug 5.8% to 2 drugs, 0.8% to 3 drugs and 0.2% to 4 drugs. Acquired resista nce to isoniazid was the most frequent (45.3%), followed by streptomyc in (40.7%), rifampicine (30.2%) thiacetazone (10.5%) and ethambutol (9 .3%). Acquired resistance was found as 13.9% to one drug, 19.8% to 2 d rugs, 12.8% to 3 drugs and 9.3% to 4 drugs. A combined resistance to r ifampicine and isoniazid in the same patient was noted in 0.8% of the new cases and in 26.7% of the old cases. These high rates af antituber culosis drug resistance in Yaounde underline the urgent need to reetab lish a tuberculosis control programme in Cameroon.