Relatedness of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis amongst Prison Inmates in South-South Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in many developing countries and a significant public health problem worldwide. Prison systems worldwide are known to be focal points for the concentration and dissemination of TB amongst inmates and prison staff.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to determine the drug resistance and relatedness of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates obtained from prison inmates in Akwa Ibom State.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: All inmates in the four federal prisons in Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria, who had a cough for 2 or more weeks were included in the study. All the participants were interviewed and requested to provide a sputum sample, which was analysed for MTB by molecular techniques after obtaining consent. 16s rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates were carried out.

RESULTS: Eight isolates were resistant to rifampicin (RIF), nine to isoniazid (INH), four to fluoroquinolones and two to aminoglycosides. Seven isolates were resistant to both RIF and INH and two to RIF, INH and fluoroquinolone each. The eight MDR-TB isolates were divided into four lineages, with Lineage 1 and 2 having one isolate each, Lineage 2 with three isolates and Lineage 4 with five isolates.

CONCLUSION: There is a significant transmission of MDR-TB strains amongst inmates in Uyo prison.