An outbreak of drug-resistant tuberculosis caused by a Beijing strain in the western Cape, South Africa

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2006 Dec;10(12):1412-4.

Abstract

During October 2005, four children in a school in Cape Town were identified with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Genetic analysis confirmed that these isolates belonged to a single cluster (Beijing cluster 220) and that all harboured a -15 inhA(C-T) promoter mutation demonstrating transmission. Genetic analysis of isolates cultured from patients from the Boland-Overberg-South Cape-Karoo and Cape Town regions showed that 28% (58/209) of patients infected with a Beijing strain had the cluster 220 genotypes and that all harboured the same -15 inhA(C-T) promoter mutation. The presence of these transmissible MDR-TB strains may pose a threat to the community, and rigorous infection control measures are needed to ensure the safety of those exposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Child
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification*
  • Oxidoreductases / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • South Africa
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Oxidoreductases
  • InhA protein, Mycobacterium