Frequency of multi-drug resistance and mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Punjab state of India

Data regarding prevalence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and associated common mutations is scarce from Punjab region. The study was designed to determine rate of MDR-TB among presumptive MDR-TB from Punjab and mutation patterns using GenoType MTBDRplus assay. Total of 812 consecutive sputum samples were received from January 2012 to July 2013, from 14 districts of Punjab at the National Reference Laboratory at New Delhi for diagnosis of MDR-TB as hand holding activity. Presumptive MDR-TB patients were identified on basis of criterion B defined by the programme. Smear positive and negatives patients were found to be 636/798 (79.7%) and 162/ 798 (20.3%) respectively. Total of 606 GenoType MTBDRplus tests were conducted and mutations in rpoB, kat G and inhA genes analyzed. Total of 94/606 (15.5%), 43/606 (7.1%) and 40/606 (6.6%) were found to be RIF and INH resistant, mono-RIF resistant and 40/606 (6.6%) mono-INH resistant respectively. Commonest known mutation for RIF in rpoB gene and INH in kat G gene was S531L (80/ 137; 58.4%) and S315T1 (119/134; 88.8%) respectively. Mutations in inhA were found in 21/134 (15.7%) strains. Average turn-around time (TAT) for dispatch of result toPunjab was 4.6 days. Prevalence of RIF resistance in Punjab was found to be 22.6%. Common mutations for RIF and INH were similar to that in other regions of country. GenoType MTBDRplus was found to be useful assay for rapid detection of MDR-TB, responsible for determining better management of MDR-TB patients under the programme.