Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance Survey under RNTCP

The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) has initiated a national anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey, with financial and technical support from World Health Organization, in a representative sample of 5214 patients comprising newly diagnosed sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB cases and previously treated sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB cases. This survey is the first national level survey for TB drug resistance in India. As part of the survey, the samples are subjected to susceptibility testing for 13 anti-TB drugs (5 first line drugs and 8 second line drugs). By October 2014, 527 patients have been registered under the survey.