O. Bercea*
*Conf. Dr. O. Bercea – Institutul de Pneumoftiziologie “Marius Nasta”, Bucuresti
Abstract
Drug – rezistance of tubercle bacilli occurs only by chromosomal mutations whose rate is so small (10-6 – 10-10 for the first line drugs) that wild strains are in fact drug sensitive strains. Drug-resistance can be acquired by selection of resistant mutants in patients during inadequate treatment (acquired or secondary drug-resistance). Primary resistance of untreated patients follows contamination from drug-resistant sources.
Drug-resistance rate has decreased in many countries over the 1962-1985 period while resistance is increasing now. Concomitant alarming reversal of the downward trend of the tb-incidence was observed in quite a lot of advanced countries. In recent years multidrug resistance (to Hand R) rised serious problems in patiens with HIV infection.
As a rezult international organisms, such as WHO and IUATLD, claimed as an urgent task, the revising of the antituberculous programmes allover the world.