Prevalence of drug resistance in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis presenting for the first time with symptoms at chest clinics in India. 1. Findings in urban clinics among patients giving no history of previous chemotherapy

摘要

IT is generally accepted that information on the prevalence of drug resistance isudessential for countries which contemplate mass chemotherapy programme for tuberculosisud(International Union against Tuberculosis, 1961). In India in 1964, informationudon this subject was confined to certain limited areas only (Tuberculosis ChemotherapyudCentre, Madras, 1959, 1960, 1964 ; Frimodt-Moller, 1962 ; Menon, 1963 ; BalbirudSingh, 1964). Therefore, the Indian Council of Medical Research (I.C.M.R.)udlaunched a series of investigations to determine the prevalence of drug resistance inudtuberculous patients reporting for the first time with symptoms at chest clinics ; chestudclinics were chosen since they are an obvious starting point for any mass chemotherapyudprogramme. A special sub-committee of the Indian Council of Medical Researchud(see footnote) was constituted to organise the execution of these investigations, and audCentral Laboratory set up on the premises of the Tuberculosis Chemotherapy Centre,udMadras, to undertake all the necessary bacteriological investigations.