Spatiotemporal dynamics of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Contrasting trends and implications for tuberculosis control in EU high-priority country.

Different and contrasting trends related to human migration and the implementation of health control programmes influence the spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). We analysed the Mycobacterium tuberculosis population structure in Estonia, a high-priority EU country for TB control, to detect the dynamic changes and underlying factors. The study collection included 278 M. tuberculosis isolates recovered in 1999 and 2014-2015. The isolates were subjected to drug susceptibility testing, genotyping and analysis of sublineage/cluster-specific markers and drug resistance mutations. The Beijing genotype was the most prevalent, and its rate increased from 28.6% in 1999 to 38.5% in 2015 (p = .09). The non-Beijing strains represented Euro-American lineage (Latin American Mediterranean [LAM], Ural, Haarlem, T, X genotypes) and Indo-Oceanic lineage (one EAI-IND isolate). The proportion of isolates resistant to two or more drugs increased from 22.4% to 29.1% (p = .1). The pre-XDR/XDR isolates were identified only within the Beijing genotype. In contrast, the drug resistance rate decreased in the LAM genotype from 42.1% to 11.8% (p = .05). The Beijing B0/W148-cluster ('successful Russian strain') included only MDR, pre-XDR or XDR isolates. All B0/W148-cluster isolates were resistant to two or more drugs compared to 28% of the Beijing 94-32-cluster (p = .0002). The Beijing genotype was not identified in the isolates from patients born in Estonia before 1940 compared to its 35.2% rate among other patients. In summary, the circulation of the highly drug-resistant isolates of the Beijing B0/W148 subtype, the increased prevalence of the Beijing genotype among HIV-coinfected patients and the increased number of patients with alcohol abuse (47.5%) present major challenges of the current TB control in Estonia. The Beijing genotype was likely brought to Estonia after 1945 due to the massive human influx from the Soviet Union. In contrast, the main genotypes of the Euro-American lineage were likely endemic in Estonia during all 20th century.

Emerging resistant clones of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a spatiotemporal context.

Objectives: We assessed the genetic structure of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis population in Estonia with a special focus on major epidemic/endemic clones and drug resistance determinants. We investigated the hypothesis of the decisive impact of massive human influx on the locally circulating genotypes. Estonia received a mass immigration from Russia during 1945-90 followed by enhanced interaction with the EU since 1991. Methods: The study sample included M. tuberculosis isolates from patients newly diagnosed with TB in 2014 in North Estonia (including the capital Tallinn). The isolates were subjected to first- and second-line drug susceptibility testing, detection of mutations in rpoB, katG, inhA, rrs, embB and gyrA and lineage/clone-specific genotyping. Results: Of the M. tuberculosis isolates, 39.8% were assigned to the Beijing genotype; 56.8% of them were MDR. In contrast, all three major non-Beijing genotypes (LAM, Haarlem and Ural) were mainly drug susceptible. MDR was more prevalent among Beijing B0/W148-cluster isolates (81.8%) compared with other Beijing isolates (20.0%; P = 0.0007). The pre-XDR phenotype was found in eight isolates, of which six belonged to Beijing B0/W148. All rifampicin-resistant and ofloxacin-resistant and 97% of isoniazid-resistant isolates harboured resistance mutations in rpoB, gyrA and katG. The rpoB S531L, katG S315T and embB M306V mutations were the most prevalent. Conclusions: The major pool of the Beijing isolates was brought to Estonia before 1990. However, an active circulation of the most hazardous MDR-associated Beijing B0/W148-cluster started only in the last 20 years and its significantly increased circulation presents the major threat to TB control in Estonia. The overwhelming prevalence of the rpoB531 and katG315 mutations in the MDR-associated Beijing isolates requires attention.

Delamanid improves outcomes and reduces mortality in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) are associated with worse treatment outcomes for patients, including higher mortality, than for drug-sensitive tuberculosis. Delamanid (OPC-67683) is a novel anti-TB medication with demonstrated activity against multidrug-resistant disease. Patients who participated in the previously reported randomised, placebo-controlled trial of delamanid and the subsequent open-label extension trial were eligible to participate in a 24-month observational study designed to capture treatment outcomes. Treatment outcomes, as assessed by clinicians and defined by the World Health Organization, were categorised as favourable and unfavourable. Delamanid treatment groups were combined for analysis, based on their duration of treatment. In total, for 421 (87.5%) out of 481 patients from the original randomised controlled trial, consent was granted for follow-up assessments. Favourable outcomes were observed in 143 (74.5%) out of 192 patients who received delamanid for ≥6 months, compared to 126 (55%) out of 229 patients who received delamanid for ≤2 months. Mortality was reduced to 1.0% among those receiving long-term delamanid versus short-term/no delamanid (8.3%; p<0.001). Treatment benefit was also seen among patients with extensively drug-resistant TB. This analysis suggests that treatment with delamanid for 6 months in combination with an optimised background regimen can improve outcomes and reduce mortality among patients with both multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB.

Discordant resistance to kanamycin and amikacin in drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

It is generally thought that there is full cross-resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis between the aminoglycoside drugs kanamycin and amikacin. However, kanamycin resistance and amikacin susceptibility were seen in 43 of 79 (54%) multidrug-resistant Estonian isolates, indicating that there might be a need to test the resistance of M. tuberculosis isolates to both drugs.