[Drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Orizaba, Veracruz. Implications for the tuberculosis prevention and control program].

Background: Tuberculosis, declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, continues to be an important public health problem in Mexico, included in the first twenty causes of death.

Objective: To know the impact of drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on treatment outcome, need of re-treatment and mortality in a cohort of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis receiving directly observed therapy, short course (DOTS).

Methods: We conducted a population-based study in a suburban region in Southern Mexico.