Objective: In this study we aimed to retrospectively analyse primary anti-tuberculosis drug susceptibilities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains, isolated from patients with initial diagnosis of tuberculosis during the two years period between 2014 and 2015 at our laboratory.

Material and Methods: Clinical samples obtained from patients with suspected tuberculosis were stained with Ehrlich-Ziehl-Neelsen method and evaluated microscopically. After processing of samples, each sample was inoculated onto Löwenstein-Jensen medium and automated culture system (Mycolor TK, Salubris A.Ş., Istanbul) medium. If bacterial growth was detected, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex typing was made and if requested antituberculosis drug susceptibilities for streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol were tested.

Results: Out of 5406 clinical samples sent to the laboratory, a total of 266 Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex iolates were included in the study and only single sample from each patient was processed. Total resistance rates to streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol were 4.5%, 6.4%, 9% ve 4.5%, respectively. Among antimycobacterial drugs, the highest resistance rate was found for rifampicin and 83.1% of the patients were susceptible to all of the agents tested. Multidrug resistance was determined as 2.6 percent. In the study, automated culture system was also evaluated in comparison with Ehrlich-Ziehl-Neelsen staining method.

Conclusion: Monitoring of resistance patterns in tuberculosis is important in determining treatment protocols and will also be useful in preventing the development of resistance in long term.