Molecular detection of Multi-Drug Resistant Mycobacterium species in a Tertiary Care centre

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) - one of the leading causes of adult death in the Asia-Pacific Region, is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). TB remains a major public health issue especially in developing nations due to the lack of adequate rapid diagnostic testing facilities. Drug resistance in tuberculosis was observed nearly fifty years ago. The risk is now due to the emergence of new strains which are most resistant to the potent anti-tuberculosis drugs. The resistance to drugs in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is conferred by mutations with the genes encoding drug targets or drug converting enzymes. In suspected extra pulmonary tuberculosis cases also, fast and accurate laboratory diagnosis is of primary importance, since the techniques which are followed from past years for detecting acid-fast bacilli have many limitations. This study may also help in standardizing the technique for rapid identification of MDR TB in extra pulmonary TB patients in this Tertiary care Hospital. The current study describes the importance and use of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the detection of Multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium species. The target genes encoding resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampicin were detected by Polymerase Cain reaction and Agarose gel electrophoresis. Among the 359 samples, 2% were resistant to both Isoniazid and Rifampicin and the prevalence of drug resistance was found to be more in adult age groups.