| Abstract |
Heteroresistance in MTB refers to the presence of distinct subpopulations of bacteria with
varying levels of antibiotic susceptibility within a population. Multidrug-resistant and rifampicinresistant
TB are serious global health concerns. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of
heteroresistance in MTB from sputum samples of new TB cases using Droplet Digital PCR mutation
detection assays for katG and rpoB genes, which are commonly associated with resistance to isoniazid
and rifampicin, respectively. We found that out of 79 samples, 9 (11.4%) exhibited mutations in katG
and rpoB genes. INH mono-resistant TB, RIF mono-resistant TB, and MDR-TB samples constituted
1.3%, 6.3%, and 3.8% of new TB cases, respectively. Heteroresistance in katG, rpoB, and both genes
were found in 2.5%, 5%, and 2.5% of total cases, respectively. Our results suggest that these mutations
may have arisen spontaneously, as the patients had not yet received anti-TB drugs. ddPCR is a
valuable tool for the early detection and management of DR-TB, as it can detect both mutant and
wild-type strains in a population, enabling the detection of heteroresistance and MDR-TB. Overall,
our findings highlight the importance of early detection and management of DR-TB for effective TB
control (in katG, rpoB, and katG/rpoB). |
Publication
Journal Publication
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