Transmission of a multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain resembling "strain W" among noninstitutionalized, human immunodeficiency virus-seronegative patients

J Infect Dis. 1999 Nov;180(5):1608-15. doi: 10.1086/315054.

Abstract

Since 1990, several outbreaks of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) have been described among institutionalized patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We describe a community MDR-TB outbreak among HIV-seronegative patients in Cape Town, South Africa. Isolates were characterized by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and dot-blot hybridization analysis of mutations conferring resistance for isoniazid, rifampin, streptomycin, and ethambutol. All isolates were identical on RFLP analysis. In 2 patients, RFLP analysis showed exogenous reinfection during or after treatment for drug-susceptible TB. Mutation analysis confirmed the genotypic identity of the isolates. The infecting strain was genotypically related to strain W, which is responsible for the majority of MDR-TB outbreaks in New York City. Transmission of MDR-TB is thus not limited to HIV-seropositive patients in an institutional setting but occurs within a community.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / pharmacology*
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Child
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • HIV Seronegativity
  • Humans
  • Institutionalization
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / classification*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • South Africa / epidemiology
  • Sputum / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / microbiology*
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / transmission*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents