Description of spoligotyping and drug-resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmitted in North Buenos Aires region

IMPERIALE B; DI GIULIO B; CHIRICO C; CASAMAJOR M; ETCHEVARRÍA M; KURIGER A; ZUMÁRRAGA M; CATALDI A; MORCILLO N

Estocolmo

Congreso; 17 Congreso Anual de la Sociedad Europea de Medicina Respiratoria (ERS); 2007

Sociedad Europea de Medicina Respiratoria (ERS)

The aims of this study were: to describe drug-resistance and spoligotyping patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates transmitted in North Buenos Aires region; to estimate the genetic diversity -by using spoligotyping- and the extent of probable related strains´ spread in the community and to identify risk factors for acquiring these actively transmitted strains. From a total of 882 isolates included in the study from January 2003 to December 2006, clinical, epidemiological, drug-susceptibility testing data and spoligotyping patterns were collected. Additional information such as socioeconomic status, education level and drug-abuse history was also obtained from 257 (29.1%) patients. A total of 222 out of 861 (25.8%) patients were infected by a strain resistant to at least one drug while 135 (15.7%) cases were caused by multidrug-resistant strains. The 861 isolates showed 262 spoligotyping patterns. Six major clusters contained 338 (39.3%) isolates (range: 24-85). HIV co-infection, a previous anti-TB treatment history, and the fact of being a contact or a health care worker were identified as the most important risk factors to acquire a clustered strain. These findings could contribute to design further activities addressed to latent TB as well as preventive measures in different risk groups and clinical condition patients.