Whole-genome sequencing of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Myanmar

by Htin Lin Aung, Thanda Tun, Danesh Moradigaravand, Claudio U Köser, Wint Wint Nyunt, Si Thu Aung, Thandar Lwin, Kyi Kyi Thinn, John A Crump, Julian Parkhill, Sharon J Peacock, Gregory M Cook, Philip C Hill
Research Article Year: 2016

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Journal of global antimicrobial resistance, 6 113-117

Abstract

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a major health threat in Myanmar. An initial study was conducted to explore the potential utility of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for the diagnosis and management of drug-resistant TB in Myanmar. Fourteen multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were sequenced. Known resistance genes for a total of nine antibiotics commonly used in the treatment of drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) in Myanmar were interrogated through WGS. All 14 isolates were MDR-TB, consistent with the results of phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST), and the Beijing lineage predominated. Based on the results of WGS, 9 of the 14 isolates were potentially resistant to at least one of the drugs used in the standard MDR-TB regimen but for which phenotypic DST is not conducted in Myanmar. This study highlights a need for the introduction of second-line DST as …