Transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the UK: a cross-sectional molecular and epidemiological study of clustering and contact tracing

Abstract

Globally, 455,000 new cases of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR)—defined as Mycobacterium tuberculosis
resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin—occurred in 2012, according to the World Health Organisation
(WHO).1 There isn't much proof that multidrug-resistant TB patients are more contagious than completely
sensitive tuberculosis patients, but the longer time these patients are infectious means more chances for
transmission. It is much more important to combat the spread of MDR TB strains since infected individuals
have a bad prognosis. Future TB control tactics may be better informed by gaining a better understanding
of the transmission dynamics of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis.