Genomic epidemiological analysis identifies high relapse among individuals with recurring tuberculosis and provides evidence of recent household-related transmission of tuberculosis in Ghana.
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ABSTRACT: Objective
To retrospectively investigate the cause of recurring tuberculosis (rcTB) among participants with pulmonary TB recruited from a prospective population-based study conducted between July 2012 and December 2015.Methods
Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates obtained from rcTB cases were characterized by standard mycobacterial genotyping tools, whole-genome sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis carried out to assess strain relatedness.Results
The majority (58.3%, 21/36) of study participants with rcTB episodes had TB recurrence within 12 months post treatment. TB strains with isoniazid (INH) resistance were found in 19.4% (7/36) of participants at the primary episode, of which 29% (2/7) were also rifampicin-resistant. On TB recurrence, an INH-resistant strain was found in a larger proportion of participants, 27.8% (10/36), of which 40% (4/10) were MDR-TB strains. rcTB was attributed to relapse (same strain) in 75.0% (27/36) of participants and 25.0% (9/36) to re-infection.Conclusion
Our findings indicate that previous unresolved infectiondue to inadequate treatment, may be the major cause of rcTB.
SUBMITTER: Asare P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8134059 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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