MDR-TB Outbreak among HIV-Negative Tunisian Patients followed during 11 Years.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) outbreaks that evolve, from the outset, in a context strictly negative for HIV infection deserve special consideration since they reflect the true intrinsic epidemic potential of the causative strain. To our knowledge, the long-term evolution of such exceptional outbreaks and the treatment outcomes for the involved patients has never been reported hitherto. Here we provide a thorough description, over an 11-year period, of an MDR-TB outbreak that emerged and expanded in an HIV-negative context, Northern Tunisia.

Methodology/principal findings

From October 2001 to June 2011, the MDR-TB outbreak involved 48 HIV-negative individuals that are mainly young (mean age 31.09 yrs; 89.6% male) and noninstitutionalized. Drug suscepti

SUBMITTER: Dekhil N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4849785 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature