title: Clustering of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from foreign-born patients in Korea.
abstract: Information on drug resistance and transmission patterns of tuberculosis (TB) in foreign-born patients is lacking in Asia where immigration is increasing. We examined the drug-resistance profiles of 288 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from foreign-born patients in South Korea, and assessed for potential transmission in the host country by analysing their IS6110 genotypes, as well as those of 4780 strains from native Korean TB patients. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB was 9.7% and 42% among new and previously treated patients, respectively. Chinese nationality was associated with MDR TB (OR(China)=3.0, 95% CI 1.1-9.3). Of the 288 strains, 51 (17.7%) formed 31 clusters, of which 22 were identical to strains from native Koreans. A number of strains belonged to the K family, subtypes known to occur endemically in Korea. MDR TB was common, and clustering patterns showed potential cross-cultural transmission among foreign-born TB patients. Further molecular epidemiological studies of all isolates in the area are needed to determine the extent of international TB transmission in Asia.
authors.affiliation: Korean Institute of Tuberculosis, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea.|Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Christie Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Korean Institute of Tuberculosis, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: HeeYoon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Korean Institute of Tuberculosis, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mihye
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Megan B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Korean Institute of Tuberculosis, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Heejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Korean Institute of Tuberculosis, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Kil
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D015242:Ofloxacin; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin; D013307:Streptomycin