Primary Drug Resistance In Tuberculosis

To the Editor:—  In a recent editorial (212:2113,1970) on "Primary Drug Resistance in Tuberculosis" an opinion was expressed thatIn the United States, Canada, and several countries in Europe, where large surveys have been instituted and compared for several years with the use of similar bacteriological and clinical criteria, the problem of primary drug resistance is relatively small.Furthermore, it is stated in the above editorial that "there appears to be no evidence that primary resistance to streptomycin, isoniazid, and aminosalicylic acid is increasing." We are, however, taking strong exceptions to statements expressed in the editorial because of the following:Many of the surveys referred to by the author have been conducted in the late 50s and very early 60s, a short period following the introduction of isoniazid.In addition, a great many studies have been limited to select population groups.One can not generalize and make strong statements