Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has been a cause of concern in both developed and developing
countries. The prevalence of drug resistance in
Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
(MTB) isolates (n=692) from
Mpumalanga province was assessed. In total, 692 (64%) MTB strains from cases with pulmonary TB were
tested for susceptibility against rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and streptomycin using the MGIT 960
instrument. Two hundred and nine (30.2%) strains were resistant to one or more drugs. Resistance to one
drug ranged from 1.4% for ethambutol to 17.7% for rifampicin. The prevalence of MDR-TB ranged from
6.7% for three drugs to 34% for four drugs, with significant predictors being patients’ age-groups of 25-54
years (p=0.0012) and >55 years (p=0.007). The result showed a high level (58.4%) of MDR-TB from cases
in Mpumalanga province. To achieve a higher cure rate in this province, drug-susceptibility tests must be
done for every case.
