Origin and interstate spread of a New York City multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clone family
Article Abstract:
A cluster of tuberculosis cases in New York appears to be caused by related strains of drug-resistant Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis. Researchers used various techniques to determine the genetic sequence of strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from 253 patients that were resistant to rifampin, isoniazid, streptomycin and ethambutol. All of the isolates were very closely related and belonged to the W family of isolates. These are presumed to have descended from a few strains that developed genes for drug resistance and were not eliminated due to incomplete treatment. W family strains have also been detected in Atlanta, Miami, Nevada, Denver and Paris. The rise of M. tuberculosis strains that are resistant to all known anti-tuberculosis drugs is a dangerous development. New tuberculosis control programs may be the only way to eliminate these strains.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1996
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A multi-institutional outbreak of highly drug-resistant tuberculosis: epidemiology and clinical outcomes
Article Abstract:
Most patients contracting multidrug resistant tuberculosis in a New York City outbreak appear to have contracted their disease during hospitalization. Of 357 multidrug resistant tuberculosis cases reported in New York City over a 43 month period, 267 patients had the identical strain and 90 did not have the analysis. Eighty-five percent were HIV positive. Eighty-three percent died. The site of infection could be determined for 70% of the group, and 96% acquired their illness at 11 hospitals. Patients with CD4 counts over 200 and who received effective therapy survived longer. Poor infection control appears to be at fault.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1996
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Identification of a W Variant Outbreak of Mycobacterium tuberculosis via Population-Based Molecular Epidemiology
Article Abstract:
Genetic analysis can detect the W variant of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, and this variant is resistant to several tuberculosis drugs. Because of this patients infected with this variant have high mortality rates. Researchers used genetic analysis on sputum samples taken from 1,207 tuberculosis patients in New Jersey and found that 6% were infected with the W variant. Forty-three patients had the group A W variant and 25 had group B. Group A was more common in US-born patients whereas group B was more common in foreign-born patients.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1999
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