Detection of fluoroquinolone resistance in tuberculosis in Kuwait
Author Information
Author(s): Noura M. Al-Mutairi, Suhail Ahmad, Eiman Mokaddas
Primary Institution: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University
Hypothesis
This study aimed to detect the occurrence of gyrA mutations associated with fluoroquinolone resistance among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis strains in Kuwait.
Conclusion
The study found that 7% of individual patient MDR-TB strains in Kuwait contained mutations in the gyrA gene, indicating a need for routine drug susceptibility testing.
Supporting Evidence
- Four of 55 individual patient MDR-TB strains contained mutations in the gyrA gene.
- All six strains with gyrA mutations were resistant to three or all four first-line drugs.
- The absence of mutations in the 3'-end of rrs gene reduces the likelihood of XDR-TB in Kuwait.
Takeaway
The researchers looked at tuberculosis germs in Kuwait and found some that were resistant to important medicines, which means doctors need to test for this resistance more often.
Methodology
The study involved DNA sequencing of the gyrA gene in 85 MDR-TB strains and 25 pansusceptible strains to detect mutations.
Limitations
Phenotypic drug susceptibility testing for fluoroquinolones was not performed, which may have missed additional resistant strains.
Participant Demographics
The study included 55 TB patients, primarily expatriates from various countries, with only two Kuwaiti nationals.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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