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Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has been a cause of concern in both developed and developing countries. The prevalence of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates (n=692) from Mpumalanga province was assessed. In total, 692 (64%) MTB strains from cases with pulmonary TB were tested for susceptibility against rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and streptomycin using the MGIT 960 instrument. Two hundred and nine (30.2%) strains were resistant to one or more drugs. Resistance to one drug ranged from 1.4% for ethambutol to 17.7% for rifampicin. The prevalence of MDR-TB ranged from 6.7% for three drugs to 34% for four drugs, with significant predictors being patients' age-groups of 25-54 years (p=0.0012) and >55 years (p=0.007). The result showed a high level (58.4%) of MDR-TB from cases in Mpumalanga province. To achieve a higher cure rate in this province, drug-susceptibility tests must be done for every case.

Eumycetoma is a chronic granulomatous infection of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, and bone caused by true fungi. Most commonly, it affects the foot or hand. Fungi commonly reported to cause eumycetoma are Madurella mycetomatis, Madurella grisea, Phialophora jeanselmei, Cephalosporium recifei, etc. There have been several previous reports of human invasive infections by Paecilomyces lilacinus causing endophthalmitis, keratitis, chronic sinusitis, skin and soft tissue infections, and catheter-related infections. We report a case of eumycetoma caused by P. lilacinus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. lilacinus causing eumycetoma of the foot in the English literature.