Whole genome sequencing of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Victoria, Australia
International Journal of Infectious Diseases·
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.11.010
- PMID
- 37967715
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- W4388666041
- Study type
- Cohort study
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The findings support the value of whole genome sequencing for identifying clusters and resistance mutations in low-burden settings, which can inform contact tracing, surveillance, and treatment strategies for drug-resistant TB.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study investigated drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Victoria, Australia using whole genome sequencing to identify resistance-conferring mutations, lineages, clusters, and how local sequences compared with international context.
Study design
Retrospective cohort study using whole genome sequencing of 155 drug-resistant TB isolates collected between 2018-2021 in Victoria, Australia, with bioinformatic analysis for resistance mutations, lineages, and phylogenetic relationships.
Population and setting
Victoria, Australia, 2018-2021: 155 genomically defined drug-resistant TB isolates from a low-burden setting, predominantly affecting migrant populations.
Main findings
Isoniazid-resistant TB was the most common form (65.8%) of drug-resistant TB; 42% of isolates were lineage 2 and 35% lineage 1. Common resistance mutations were identified in katG (Ser315Thr) and fabG1 (-15 C>T) genes, with rpoB Ser450Leu most frequent. Phylogenetic analysis indicated importation events were the primary source with little evidence of local transmission (five isolate pairs).
Public-health relevance
The findings support the value of whole genome sequencing for identifying clusters and resistance mutations in low-burden settings, which can inform contact tracing, surveillance, and treatment strategies for drug-resistant TB.
Important limitations
This summary is limited to the supplied single-article abstract/metadata and requires access to the original full paper for decision-grade interpretation. The retrospective cohort design and single-region focus may limit generalizability.
GIDS interpretation
This study provides genomic context for drug-resistant TB in Victoria, Australia, demonstrating that importation, rather than local transmission, appears to drive drug-resistant TB in this setting. The findings offer baseline genomic epidemiology data relevant to surveillance systems.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 12 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.