Detection and factors associated with tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance among presumptive patients at the Thailand-Myanmar border.

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major public health problem in Thailand and many countries. Endemic TB and outbreaks of TB drug resistance in the borderlands are particularly important. The Thailand-Myanmar border has extensive cross-border travel that may accelerate TB's spread. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the frequency and factors associated with TB, and rifampicinresistant TB (RR-TB) among presumptive tuberculosis patients in Mae Sot Hospital. Sputum was processed by microscopic examination and Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Laboratory results and socio-demographic characteristics were collected and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the association of the risk factors with TB and RR-TB. The significant variables at p-values < 0.05 in univariate analysis were selected for multivariate analysis. Of 365 presumptive patients enrolled, 244 (66.85%) were males and 199 (54.52%) were Burmese. Of these, 314 (86.03%) were registered as new cases and 183 (50.14%) worked as laborers. Sputum microscopy was positive in 132 (36.16%) cases. Based on Xpert MTB/RIF, the frequency of TB was 136 (37.26%) and RR-TB was 15 (11.03%). TB was more common in males than females. The majority of the cases belonged to the 26-50-year-old age group and migrant workers. In RR-TB detection, the rpoB mutations covered by probe E were the most frequently observed. Sequencing showed that the most highly mutated codon was codon 531 and Ser531Thr was the most common mutation. For risk factor analysis, working as laborers was significantly (p-value < 0.05) associated with TB (aOR 2.83; 95% CI 1.43-5.63) and previously treated cases were significantly associated with RR-TB (aOR 12.33; 95% CI 2.29-66.49). The high frequency of TB and RR-TB in migrants highlights the problem and factors associated with TB at the border and the need for efforts in TB control programs in this setting.

Detection and factors associated with tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance among presumptive patients at the Thailand-Myanmar border

@#Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major public health problem in Thailand and many countries. Endemic TB and outbreaks of TB drug resistance in the borderlands are particularly important. The Thailand-Myanmar border has extensive cross-border travel that may accelerate TB’s spread. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the frequency and factors associated with TB, and rifampicinresistant TB (RR-TB) among presumptive tuberculosis patients in Mae Sot Hospital. Sputum was processed by microscopic examination and Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Laboratory results and socio-demographic characteristics were collected and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the association of the risk factors with TB and RR-TB. The significant variables at p-values < 0.05 in univariate analysis were selected for multivariate analysis. Of 365 presumptive patients enrolled, 244 (66.85%) were males and 199 (54.52%) were Burmese. Of these, 314 (86.03%) were registered as new cases and 183 (50.14%) worked as laborers. Sputum microscopy was positive in 132 (36.16%) cases. Based on Xpert MTB/RIF, the frequency of TB was 136 (37.26%) and RR-TB was 15 (11.03%). TB was more common in males than females. The majority of the cases belonged to the 26-50-year-old age group and migrant workers. In RR-TB detection, the rpoB mutations covered by probe E were the most frequently observed. Sequencing showed that the most highly mutated codon was codon 531 and Ser531Thr was the most common mutation. For risk factor analysis, working as laborers was significantly (p-value < 0.05) associated with TB (aOR 2.83; 95% CI 1.43-5.63) and previously treated cases were significantly associated with RR-TB (aOR 12.33; 95% CI 2.29-66.49). The high frequency of TB and RR-TB in migrants highlights the problem and factors associated with TB at the border and the need for efforts in TB control programs in this setting.

Prevalence of methicillin resistance and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance in Staphylococcus haemolyticus among clinical strains at a tertiary-care hospital in Thailand.

Staphylococcus spp. is a major cause of nosocomial infection and sepsis. However, increasing drug resistance is becoming a challenge to microbiologists. The purpose of this study was to identify and determine antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and drug resistance genes of clinical coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolates at Mae Sot Hospital in Tak province, Thailand. A total of 229 CoNS isolates were collected from clinical specimens during two periods in 2014 and in 2015. Staphylococcus haemolyticus was the most prevalent species (37.55%), followed by S. epidermidis (21.83%), S. saprophyticus (11.79%) and S. hominis (11.35%) respectively. The remaining 17.48% of the organisms comprised S. capitis, S. arlettae, S. cohnii, S. equorum, S. xylosus, S. warneri, S. sciuri, S. pettenkoferi, S. kloosii and S. lugdunensis. Methicillin-resistant CoNS (MRCoNS), containing the mecA gene, were detected in 145 of 229 isolates, mostly found in S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis. In addition, the differentiation of their macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) resistance phenotypes was determined by the D-test and corresponding resistance genes. Among 125 erythromycin-resistant CoNS, the prevalence of constitutive type of MLSB, inducible clindamycin resistance and macrolide-streptogramin B resistance phenotypes were 72, 13.60 and 14.40% respectively. These phenotypes were expressed in 80% of MRCoNS strains. In addition, the ermC gene (79.20%) was found to be more prevalent than the ermA gene (22.40%), especially among MRCoNS. These results indicate that CoNS may play an important role in spreading of drug resistance genes. More attention to these organisms in surveillance and monitoring programs is needed.