Emerging Infectious Diseases (Oct 2011)

Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis, People’s Republic of China, 2007–2009

  • Guang Xue He,
  • Hai Ying Wang,
  • Martien W. Borgdorff,
  • Dick van Soolingen,
  • Marieke J. van der Werf,
  • Zhi Min Liu,
  • Xue Zheng Li,
  • Hui Guo,
  • Yan Lin Zhao,
  • Jay K. Varma,
  • Christopher P. Tostado,
  • Susan van den Hof

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1710.110546
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 10
pp. 1831 – 1838

Abstract

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We conducted a case–control study to investigate risk factors for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) in the People’s Republic of China. Genotyping analysis was used to estimate the percentage of cases from recent transmission among 100 MDR TB case-patients hospitalized during April 2007–July 2009. Molecular subtyping of isolates showed that 41% of MDR TB strains clustered. Beijing genotype was found in 94% of the MDR TB isolates and 79% of the pan-susceptible isolates. In multivariate analysis, MDR TB was independently associated with Beijing genotype, retreatment for TB, symptoms lasting >3 months before first evaluation at the hospital, lack of health insurance, and being a farmer (vs. being a student). MDR TB was associated with Beijing genotype and lower socioeconomic status. A large percentage of MDR TB cases seemed to result from recent transmission. Early detection, effective treatment, and infection control measures for MDR TB are needed to reduce transmission.

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