Abstract

Objective: To combine isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) in a single media to detect and evaluate multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) strains using clinical specimens by direct and indirect drug susceptibility testing (DST). Methods: Drug susceptibility testing for INH and RIF using individual and combined drug media was performed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method on direct clinical specimens. Results: The combined drug media showed complete concordance with individual drug media in the detection of MDR-TB by direct DST method and 89% efficiency with indirect DST method. Susceptibility results were available by 3 weeks after the receipt of clinical specimen using direct DST on combined drug media. Conclusions: Combined drug media can be used as a fast track method in large scale studies warranting detection of MDR-TB.

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