CONTROL OF MULTI DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES

Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is defined as disease due to M. Tuberculosis that is resistant to Isoniazid (H) and Rifampicin (R) with or without resistance to other drugs. MDR-TB has been an area of growing concern to human health world wide and posing a threat to the control of tuberculosis. Current estimates report the prevalence of primary and acquired MDR TB in India is 2.2% and 15 % respectively. It is estimated that 99,000 MDR-TB cases emerge every year in India, representing 20% of the global burden. Out of 99,000 cases 62, 000 were among notified cases of tuberculosis in India in 2013 (1).