Tuberculosis relapse is more common than reinfection in Beijing, China

BACKGROUND: Recurrent tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem in countries with a high TB burden. It is very necessary to elucidate the situation of recurrent TB in Beijing, capital of China. OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of recurrent tuberculosis (TB) cases and to identify relapsed or reinfected cases, as well as risk factors associated with recurrence in Beijing. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study that included all TB cases in Beijing that were successfully treated from 2013 to 2015. Recurrence due to relapse or reinfection was determined using the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) method. Risk factors associated with recurrence were analysed. RESULTS: < .001) were more likely to have TB recurrence. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that relapse was more common than reinfection in recurrent TB cases in Beijing from 2013 to 2015. Age and retreatment were found to be risk factors for TB recurrence.