An outbreak of drug-resistant tuberculosis caused by a Beijing strain in the western Cape, South Africa.
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.
Johnson
R
R
Department of Science and Technology, Faculty of Health Science, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.
Warren
R
R
Strauss
O J
OJ
Jordaan
A M
AM
Falmer
A A
AA
Beyers
N
N
Schaaf
H S
HS
Murray
M
M
Cloete
K
K
van Helden
P D
PD
Victor
T C
TC
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013019:South Africa; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000453:epidemiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C085257:InhA protein, Mycobacterium