Isolation of drug-resistant tubercle bacilli in cutaneous tuberculosis

Cutaneous tuberculosis in a teenage boy that did not respond to conventiona l antitubercular therapy is described. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was recov ered on culture and found to be resistant to rifampicin and isoniazid. Grad ual regression of the lesions was observed after the addition of streptomyc in and ethambutol. Later streptomycin was stopped and the boy was advised t o continue ethambutol along with ofloxacin and thioacetazone until complete regression was achieved.