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

• Main Authors: 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
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2011-10-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Tuberculosis and other mycobacteria; TB; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; M. tuberculosis; drug-resistant tuberculosis; multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/10/11-0546_article
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059

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.