Tuberculosis is a public health problem around the world. This problem is worsening daily due to the increasing prevalence of multiple drugs resistance, poor living and working conditions, AIDS, inter alia. Aim: To characterize patients with tuberculosis and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis who consult third level of complexity institutions. Methods: Quantitative-descriptive-cross-sectional-retrospective study developed in six third-level institutions in Bogota D.C. The data collection was done between October 2010 and January 2011. 640 medical records from patients with diagnoses done between October 2008 and October 2010 were collected. Ethical aspects were taken into account. Results: 46% of the patients had pulmonary TB, 41% had extrapulmonary TB, 14% did not have records about this information. 64% of the patients were male (predominant). 21% of the patients were older than 65 years old. 44% of the patients were in contributory system. 2.2% of the cases were diagnosed as MDR TB. Within this group, 71% of these cases were men. 36% were 25-34 years old. There were no differences with respect to affiliation system in this sub-group. Conclusions: Socio-demographic characteristics of the TB patients are an important tool to develop programs to control this disease.