Abstract

MONTORO, Ernesto et al. Surveillance of resistance to antitubercular drugs in Cuba, 2000-2009. Rev Panam Salud Publica [online]. 2011, vol.30, n.6, pp. 615-618. ISSN 1020-4989.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1020-49892011001200020.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of resistance to antitubercular drugs in Cuba in the 2000-2009 decade. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted. The sample group consisted of 2  285 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates obtained from throughout the country in the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2009. The proportion method was used in Löwenstein-Jensen media with the first-line drugs: isoniazid, streptomycin, ethambutol, and rifampicin. RESULTS: In the new cases and patients with a history of previous treatment, resistance was 8.5% and 37.0%, respectively. In these case categories, multidrug resistance was 0.4% and 8.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows low prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains in Cuba. The results reflect the progress made by the national control program, which is currently working on the elimination of tuberculosis as a public health problem in the country.

Keywords : Mycobacterium tuberculosis; drug resistance, multiple, bacterial; antibiotics, antitubercular; Cuba.