ena-STUDY-Irish Mycobacteria Reference Laboratory (IMRL)-15-12-2020-14:28:26:156-82
Pyrazinamide Susceptibility Testing in M. tuberculosis
Pyrazinamide (PZA) is one of the first-line agents used for the treatment of tuberculosis. However, current phenotypic PZA susceptibility testing in the BACTEC MGIT 960 system is unreliable and false resistance is well documented. Rapid identification of resistance-associated mutations can confirm the phenotypic result. This study aimed to investigate the use of genotypic methods in combination with phenotypic susceptibility testing for confirmation of PZA resistant M. tuberculosis isolates. Sanger sequencing and/or whole genome sequencing were performed to detect mutations in pncA, rpsA, panD and clpC1. Isolates were screened for heteroresistance, and PZA susceptibility testing was performed in the BACTEC MGIT 960 system using a reduced inoculum to investigate false resistance. Overall, 40 phenotypically PZA resistant isolates were identified. Of these, PZA resistance was confirmed in 22/40 (55%) isolates by detecting mutations in pncA, rpsA and panD genes. 16/40 (40%) isolates were found to be susceptible using the reduced inoculum method (i.e. false resistance). No mutations were detected in two PZA resistant isolates. False resistance was observed in isolates with MICs close to the critical concentration. In particular, EAI strains (lineage 1) appeared to have an elevated MIC that is close to the critical concentration. While this study illustrates the complexity and challenges associated with PZA susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis, we conclude that a combination of genotypic and phenotypic drug susceptibility testing methods is required for accurate detection of PZA resistance.
Pyrazinamide (PZA) is one of the first-line agents used for the treatment of tuberculosis. However, current phenotypic PZA susceptibility testing in the BACTEC MGIT 960 system is unreliable and false resistance is well documented. Rapid identification of resistance-associated mutations can confirm the phenotypic result. This study aimed to investigate the use of genotypic methods in combination with phenotypic susceptibility testing for confirmation of PZA resistant M. tuberculosis isolates. Sanger sequencing and/or whole genome sequencing were performed to detect mutations in pncA, rpsA, panD and clpC1. Isolates were screened for heteroresistance, and PZA susceptibility testing was performed in the BACTEC MGIT 960 system using a reduced inoculum to investigate false resistance. Overall, 40 phenotypically PZA resistant isolates were identified. Of these, PZA resistance was confirmed in 22/40 (55%) isolates by detecting mutations in pncA, rpsA and panD genes. 16/40 (40%) isolates were found to be susceptible using the reduced inoculum method (i.e. false resistance). No mutations were detected in two PZA resistant isolates. False resistance was observed in isolates with MICs close to the critical concentration. In particular, EAI strains (lineage 1) appeared to have an elevated MIC that is close to the critical concentration. While this study illustrates the complexity and challenges associated with PZA susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis, we conclude that a combination of genotypic and phenotypic drug susceptibility testing methods is required for accurate detection of PZA resistance.