Extensive Endemic Transmission of Multidrug-Resistant <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> in Bhutan: A Retrospective Genomic-Epidemiological Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The proportion of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases is increasing in Bhutan. We conducted the first retrospective genomic-epidemiological study to provide insights into the population structure, resistance patterns, and recent transmission in Bhutan.

Methods

Whole genome sequencing was performed on randomly selected drug-resistant (DR-TB) and drug-sensitive TB (DS-TB) isolates from Bhutan, collected between 2018 and 2022 at the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify drug-resistance mutations and genomic clustering of cases.

Results

Approximately 40% of DR-TB and 2.5% of DS-TB were sequenced each year. Of the 203 sequences that passed the quality control

SUBMITTER: Dorji T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12853382 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature