We set out to determine the levels of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to first- and second-line TB drugs in an urban population in Zambia. Sputum samples were collected consecutively from all smear-positive, new and previously treated patients, from four diagnostic centres in Ndola between January and July 2006. Drug susceptibility testing was performed using the proportion method against four first- and two second-line TB drugs. Results. Among 156 new cases, any resistance was observed to be , monoresistance to isoniazid and rifampicin was and , respectively. Of 31 retreatment cases, any resistance was observed to be , monoresistance to isoniazid and rifampicin was for.
