The objective of the present study was to investigate the frequency and risk factors for developing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Cabo de Santo Agostinho, PE. This was a prospective study conducted from 2000 to 2003, in which suspected cases were investigated using bacilloscopy and culturing. Out of 232 confirmed cases of tuberculosis, culturing and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed on 174. Thirty-five of the 174 cultures showed resistance to all drugs. The frequencies of primary and acquired resistance to any drug were 14% and 50% respectively, while the frequencies of primary and acquired multidrug resistance were 8.3% and 40%. Previous tuberculosis treatment and abandonment of treatment were risk factors for drug resistance. The high levels of primary and acquired resistance to the combination of isoniazid and rifampicin contributed towards the difficulties in controlling tuberculosis transmission in the city.
Key-words:Tuberculosis. Drug resistance. Multidrug resistance. Risk factors.Multidrug resistance. Risk factors.
RESUMOO objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a freqüência e fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de tuberculose multidroga resistente, na Cidade do Cabo de Santo Agostinho, PE. Este é um estudo prospectivo realizado entre 2000-2003 onde casos suspeitos foram investigados por baciloscopia e cultura. De 232 casos de tuberculose confirmados, 174 tiveram cultura e antibiograma realizados. Trinta e cinco das 174 culturas mostraram resistência a qualquer uma das drogas. A freqüência de resistência primária e adquirida a qualquer droga foi 14% e 50% respectivamente enquanto a freqüência primária e adquirida para multidroga resistência foi 8,3% e 40%. Tratamento prévio para tuberculose ou abandono de tratamento consistiu em fatores de risco para resistência a drogas. Os altos níveis de resistência primária e adquirida a combinação isoniazida e rifampicina contribuem para as dificuldades no controle da transmissão da tuberculose no Cabo. The increasing frequency of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), which has been leading to failure to respond to either isoniazid (INH) or rifampicin (RMP) is of great concern in relation to successful implementation of large-scale regional TB control programs. In Brazil, the first-line drugs for TB treatment in use since 1982 are INH and RMP for six months in association with pyrazinamide (PZA) for the first two months. The drugs are supplied by the government, without cost to the patient, and the treatment is based on self-administration.
PalavrasThe World Health Organization (WHO) defines multidrugresistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) as TB involving resistance to at least INH and RMP. However, the Brazilian Consensus