Inadequate treatment regimens and poor compliance have led to increased rates of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis around the world, leading to the emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) strains. In Peru MDR-TB rates are amongst the highest in the world and XDR-TB cases have been reported for almost a decade. Drug susceptibility tests detect cases with resistant strains, providing the best treatment option to the patient and diminishing the spread of the disease. This review is directed at the non-specialist physician, focusing upon the drug susceptibility tests approved by the National TB Program of Peru and others currently still under research.

Inadequate treatment regimens and poor compliance have led to increased rates of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis around the world, leading to the emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) strains. In Peru MDR-TB rates are amongst the highest in the world and XDR-TB cases have been reported for almost a decade. Drug susceptibility tests detect cases with resistant strains, providing the best treatment option to the patient and diminishing the spread of the disease. This review is directed at the non-specialist physician, focusing upon the drug susceptibility tests approved by the National TB Program of Peru and others currently still under research.

Objetivos: Determinar las características clínicas, epidemiológicas y de laboratorio de la bartonelosis aguda, así como las complicaciones en una serie de pacientes atendidos en el Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo de tipo serie de casos de pacientes mayores de 15 años con bartonelosis aguda hospitalizados en el Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia entre 1993 y 2006. Resultados: La edad promedio fue 27,8 años, 72,7% fueron varones, 51,5% procedía de Lima y 33,3% de Ancash. Los síntomas principales fueron: fiebre 90,9%, cefalea 87,9%, hiporexia 75,5%, baja de peso 63,6%, e ictericia 57,6%. Dos pacientes presentaron alteraciones en el fondo de ojo: retinitis exudativa y retinopatía hemorrágica. El hematocrito promedio fue 20,8% y 63,6% cursaron hematocrito ≤20%. Hubo desviación izquierda en 24,2%, hiperbilirrubinemia a predominio indire...