During 2001鈥?005, a regional anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey was conducted in Castilla y Le贸n, Spain, in newly treated HIV negative tuberculosis (TB) patients.
A total of 918 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were studied (one strain per patient) from six hospitals corresponding to 46.7%of the total population of Castilla y Le贸n, using the proportion method on solid medium.
Primary drug resistance was 4.2%(streptomycin 1.2%, isoniazid 3.2%, rifampin 0.3%, ethambutol 0.1%and pyrazinamide 0.5%). Mono-resistance was observed in 24 (2.6%) and resistance to both isoniazid and rifampin (multi-drug resistance) was detected in one case (0.1%). These results were not statistically significant compared to previous studies in the same Community.
The incidence of primary drug resistance in the surveyed area was low, including isoniazid, allowing new anti-tuberculosis treatment with the standardised three-drug regimen to be started. Regular surveillance of drug resistance is recommended by the TB control programme in representative patient populations to optimize treatment regimens.