Increasing resistance of M-tuberculosis to anti-TB drugs in Saudi Arabia

The incidence of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolat ed from our hospital between April 1996 and March 1998 was compared with an earlier study (1993-1995). Thirty (29.7%) of 101 MTB isolates were resista nt to one or more anti-TB drugs and 21 (20%) of 101 were multi-drug resista nt M. tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Resistance was most common to isoniazid (28.7% ), followed by streptomycin (22.8%) and rifampicin (20.8%). Resistance to p yrazinamide and ethambutol was 7.9 and 6.9%, respectively. There was a thre e-fold increase in resistance compared with the earlier study. (C) 2001 Els evier Science B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights re served.