Drug resistance trends in M-tuberculosis: Blackburn 1990-1999

SETTING: Blackburn, United Kingdom. OBJECTIVE: To describe the drug resistance data for Mycobacterium tuberculo sis in white and Indian Subcontinent (ISC) ethnic patients in a high preval ence district in the United Kingdom (UK) over a 10-year period. DESIGN: Data from a detailed prospective clinical and epidemiological datab ase of all notified patients were examined for the years 1990-1999 inclusiv e. RESULTS: Primary isoniazid resistance was found in 17/229 (7.4 %) of ISC an d 3/67 (4.5 %) of white isolates. There was no statistical difference in th e rates of drug resistance in those of ISC ethnic origin, whether they were ISC or UK born and whether or not they had made return visits to the ISC. CONCLUSION: The rate of primary isoniazid resistance remains between 5-10% in ISC patients in Blackburn, showing no fall from previous surveys. The ra te of drug resistance was not lower in those born in the UK, irrespective o f whether return visits had been made to the ISC. These data will need to b e further monitored.