Transmission as a Key Driver of Resistance to the New Tuberculosis Drugs

Resistance to newly endorsed multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatments is already emerging globally. Using whole-genome sequencing data, researchers identified highly drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Georgia and other countries. Approximately one-quarter of these strains were involved in patient-to-patient transmission clusters, suggesting transmission plays a significant role in the spread of resistance. These findings underscore the urgent need to enhance diagnostic capacity, infection control, and surveillance to preserve the efficacy of new tuberculosis treatments

Resistance to newly endorsed multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatments is already emerging globally. Using whole-genome sequencing data, researchers identified highly drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Georgia and other countries. Approximately one-quarter of these strains were involved in patient-to-patient transmission clusters, suggesting transmission plays a significant role in the spread of resistance. These findings underscore the urgent need to enhance diagnostic capacity, infection control, and surveillance to preserve the efficacy of new tuberculosis treatments