title: Usefulness of molecular techniques to identify ongoing tuberculosis transmission in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: This study represents the first time that molecular tracing techniques have been used to identify patterns of tuberculosis TB infection in Saudi Arabia. The 2 strains were isolated from a socio-economically advantage family who share a number of common facilities including a car and a driver. There are several factors that may play vital roles in on-going transmission of TB in Saudi Arabia including a high number of expatriates, the Hajj pilgrimage, and the social habits of Saudi citizens. Our sibling case series is believed to be a frequent pattern of disease transmission in this country. Control measures such as health education, active case finding, and prompt and supervised medical treatment are needed. More studies using molecular techniques are recommended to find the incidence of cross infection in Saudi Arabia. In addition, molecular techniques have to be established in all reference laboratories to help the detection of ongoing active transmission, molecular epidemiology and detect sources of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine MBC-03, Tuberculosis Research Unit, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. hajoj@kfshrc.edu.sa
authors.forename: Sahal A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Hajoj
authors.forename: Viqaruddin K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: Abdullah A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Hokail
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008967:Molecular Biology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D035781:Siblings; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial