Despite the availability of drugs that can cure tuberculosis, 1.4 million people died of tuberculosis in 2011. Although tuberculosis incidence has declined in most developed areas of the world, South Africa and other regions have been unable to achieve tuberculosis control. The development and transmission of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, continued spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and significant resource limitations are a few of the complexities that have converged in South Africa. The development of drug-resistance in M. tuberculosis occurs due to spontaneous mutations in the bacterial genome. Mutant strains are selected when single drugs are used for treatment, when insufficient multidrug treatment regimens are administered or supplied, or when patients do not adhere to their treatment. These drug-resistant strains can then be transmitted to other people. Resistance to the two most important first-line drugs, isoniazid and rifampin (defined as multidrug-resistant [MDR] tuberculosis), followed by additional resistance to critical second-line drugs (fluoroquinolones and injectable agents;defined as extensively drug-resistant [XDR] tuberculosis), results in progressively worse treatment outcomes. Fluoroquinolones are critical for the successful treatment of MDR-TB;development of fluoroquinolone resistance is associated with poor outcomes. The current proposal seeks to characterize the incidence and outcomes of fluoroquinolone resistance in patients who have MDR tuberculosis, with particular attention to patients who have fluoroquinolone-susceptible isolates at the time of MDR tuberculosis diagnosis, but who develop fluoroquinolone resistance despite adherence to treatment. The extent of this problem in South Africa, and its effect on clinical outcomes, are unknown. We will first describe the frequency with which fluoroquinolone resistance emerges among patients being treated for MDR tuberculosis. We will then determine risk factors for the development of fluoroquinolone resistance, followed by the effect of fluoroquinolone resistance on clinical outcomes. The study population will be drawn from the South African National Health Laboratory Service database in the Western Cape Province from 2007 to 2011. Molecular epidemiologic techniques will be employed to characterize mutations associated with fluoroquinolone resistance and distinguish between emergence of resistance in the same strain and exogenous reinfection with a fluoroquinolone-resistant strain. The proposed studies will provide new insight into the scope and risk factors fo fluoroquinolone-resistant tuberculosis in a population with a high burden of HIV as well as MDR and XDR tuberculosis. The results will allow for implementation of strategies to prevent the development of fluoroquinolone resistance and protect this class of drugs for effective anti-tuberculosis therapy.

Public Health Relevance

Drug-resistant tuberculosis and HIV are devastating public health problems in South Africa. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are critical for the treatment of tuberculosis that is resistant to the most important first-line drugs, but resistance to fluoroquinolones threatens their usefulness. The current study will examine the scope and impact of the problem of fluoroquinolone-resistant tuberculosis in a setting with high rates of HIV and provide new information that will help protect this vital class of medications for the treatmen of tuberculosis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
1K08AI106420-01A1
Application #
8659703
Study Section
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Research Review Committee (AIDS)
Program Officer
Lacourciere, Karen A
Project Start
2014-08-01
Project End
2019-07-31
Budget Start
2014-08-01
Budget End
2015-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$166,788
Indirect Cost
$12,077
Name
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004413456
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37212
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van der Heijden, Y F; Karim, F; Mufamadi, G et al. (2017) Isoniazid-monoresistant tuberculosis is associated with poor treatment outcomes in Durban, South Africa. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 21:670-676
Eilertson, Brandon; Maruri, Fernanda; Blackman, Amondrea et al. (2016) A novel resistance mutation in eccC5 of the ESX-5 secretion system confers ofloxacin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J Antimicrob Chemother 71:2419-27
van der Heijden, Yuri F; Heerman, William J; McFadden, Sara et al. (2015) Missed opportunities for tuberculosis screening in primary care. J Pediatr 166:1240-1245.e1
Van Der Heijden, Y F; Maruri, F; Holt, E et al. (2015) A comparison of interview methods to ascertain fluoroquinolone exposure before tuberculosis diagnosis. Epidemiol Infect 143:960-5