Surveillance of fluoroquinolones resistance in rifampicin-susceptible tuberculosis in eastern China with whole-genome sequencing-based approach

Abstract

Leveraging well-established DNA-level drug resistance mechanisms, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has emerged as a valuable methodology for predicting drug resistance. As the most effective second-line anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) drugs, fluoroquinoloness (FQs) are generally used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB, defined as being resistant to resistant to rifampicin and isoniazid) or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB). However, FQs are also commonly used in the management of other bacterial infections. There are few published data on the rates of FQs resistance among rifampicin-susceptible TB. The prevalence of FQs resistance among TB patients who are rifampicin-susceptible has not been studied in Zhejiang Province, China. The goal of this study was to provide a baseline characterization of the prevalence of FQs resistance, particularly among rifampicin-susceptible TB in Zhejiang Province, China.