Investigation of Drug Susceptibility of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex Strains Isolated from Mycobacteriology Laboratory by Agar Proportion

[LANGUAGE= "English"] Purpose: In spite of current diagnosis and treatment, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Ineffective drug combinations and patient incompliance lead to increasing drug resistance. This study was carried out to determine the susceptibility patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains in Kayseri region.Material and Methods: A total of 33 Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains, isolated from the pre-diagnosed tuberculosis patients' clinical samples who had applied to the Hospitals of University of Erciyes Medical Faculty from May 2005 to July 2006, were studied. Susceptibility was tested by the agar proportion method.Results: Two of all of 33 isolates were both resistant to isoniazide and rifampicin. There were no resistance against streptomycin and ethambutol. These resistances were considered as primary multi-drug resistance.Conclusion: The resistance rate found in this study by the agar proportion was lower than the previous studies performed in Kayseri region. However, multi-drug resistance rate was higher. Multi-centre studies with larger numbers of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains are necessary. The control precautions of tuberculosis should be immediately revised due to high primary resistance rates.