INITIAL DRUG RESISTANCE TO ANTITUBERCULOSIS DRUGS IN URBAN AND RURAL DISTRICT TUBERCULOSIS PROGRAMME*

Summary. The proportion of initial drug resistance (IDR) to antituberculosis drugs was estimated among new patients attending urban and rural District Tuberculosis Programme (DTP). For estimating the rural IDR, 398 smear positive patients attending DTP in Kolar district in the sears 1987-89, who were offered Short Course Chemotherapy (SCC) were taken into the study. Sputum specimens collected from them were subjected to culture and drug sensitivity tests. It was observed that IDR to any drug was 34.9% (Isoniazid 32.87 % and Rifampicin 4.4%). Among the newly diagnosed urban patients attending the State TB Centre, Bangalore in the year 1985-86, IDR to any drug was 20.57 % (Isoniazid 17.35% and Rifampicin 2.89%). Combined resistance to Rifampicin and Isoniazid was 1.36 % in the urban clinic and 3.42 % in rural DTP. Thus, resistance to Rifampicin was already present in areas where SCC was yet to be introduced, which becomes a source of concern. With the gradual introduction of SCC in NTP and treatment not being restricted strictly to the fresh cases. IDR to Isoniazid and Rifampicin assumes paramount importance and has to be monitored continuously