Primary antituberculosis drug resistance and acquired rifampicin resistance in Gujarat, India.

The prevalence of primary antituberculosis drug resistance in Gujarat, as studied between 1983 and 1986, was found to be significantly high, especially for isoniazid (13.9%) and streptomycin (7.4%). Primary rifampicin and pyrazinamide resistance were not detected in any strain. The prevalence of rifampicin resistance among treatment failure and relapse cases of pulmonary tuberculosis increased significantly from 2.8% in 1980 to 37.3% in 1986. In about 95% of the rifampicin resistant strains there was also resistance to isoniazid or streptomycin or both: resistance to isoniazid was detected in more than 90%.