Nosocomial transmission of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in a rural hospital in South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-tuberculosis) is a global public health threat, but few data exist elucidating factors driving this epidemic. The initial XDR-tuberculosis report from South Africa suggested transmission is an important factor, but detailed epidemiologic and molecular analyses were not available for further characterization.

Methods

We performed a retrospective, observational study among XDR-tuberculosis patients to identify hospital-associated epidemiologic links. We used spoligotyping, IS6110-based restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis, and sequencing of resistance-determining regions to identify clusters. Social network analysis was used to construct transmission networks among genotypically clustered patients.

Results

SUBMITTER: Gandhi NR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3523793 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature