Morris Steiner

1168 COMPARISON OF SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERNS OF M. TUBERCLOSIS ISOLATED FROM CHILDREN AND ADULTS FROM 1971 THROUGH JUNE, 1984 TREATED AT KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL

A comparison of the susceptibility patterns of M. tuberculosis isolated from children and adults treated for tuberculosis from 1971 through June, 1984 was performed. There were 126 strains isolated from children and 2735 from adults. The study was divided into 2 periods, 1971-1977 and 1978-June, 1984. During period 1, 13 of 95 (13.7%) children strains and 301 of 1745 (17.22) adult strains were resistant to isoniazid (INH). In period 2, 2 of 31 (6.5%) children strains and 106 of 1008 (10.5%) adult strains were resistant to INH. The decrease in resistance to INH was significant for adults. In period 1, none of 81 children strains and 10 of 1745 (0.6%) adult strains were resistant to rifampin (RF). In period 2, 5 of 31 (16.2%) children strains and 127 of 1008 (12.6%) adult strains were resistant to RF. The increase in resistance to RF in period 2 was significant for both children (P=<.001) and adults (p=<.001). There was no significant difference in the resistance rates to INH or RF between children and adults. Our findings show a close correlation between the resistance rates for Mtb isolated from children and adults in our community. The findings of a decreased resistance rate to INH with an increased resistance rate to RF suggests that the mechanism for acquired resistance to RF is different from that of INH and points up the necessity for continued surveillance for drug resistance to RF.