Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
 |
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2000 Mar;4(3):223-31. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/20213119
Antunes ML; Aleixo-Dias J; Antunes AF; Pereira MF; Raymundo E; Rodrigues MF; Direccao-Geral da Saude, Lisbon, Portugal. maria.antunes@ip.pt
Abstract: SETTING: A survey based upon a representative sample of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients was undertaken in Portugal, as part of the World Health Organization's Global Project on Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance Surveillance. OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of primary antituberculosis drug resistance at both national and regional levels, and to assess its relative weight within the performance of the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP). DESIGN: Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from 1,105 patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis admitted to 46 randomly stratified treatment centres all over mainland Portugal were submitted to susceptibility testing with four drugs. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing was included in the patients' evaluation scheme. RESULTS: Of the strains isolated, 197 (17.8%) were resistant to at least one drug. Primary resistance to isoniazid was 7.7% and to rifampicin 1.9%. Acquired drug resistance was 39.2% in total, any acquired resistance to isoniazid 31.1% and to rifampicin 20.9%. Primary multidrug resistance (MDR) was 1.8% and acquired MDR was 20.9%. HIV testing was positive in 29.2% of MDR-TB cases. CONCLUSIONS: Drug resistance in Portugal is high. Primary MDR and particularly acquired MDR occur in a high proportion of cases, indicating a need for improvement in NTP performance.
Copyright © 2000 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2000. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .