National Tuberculosis Genotyping and Surveillance Network: design and methods.

Jack T Crawford,Barbara A Schable,Christopher R Braden,Ida M Onorato

doi:10.3201/eid0811.020296

Jack T Crawford, Barbara A Schable + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3201/eid0811.020296

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Abstract

The National Tuberculosis Genotyping and Surveillance Network was established in 1996 to perform a 5-year, prospective study of the usefulness of genotyping Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates to tuberculosis control programs. Seven sentinel sites identified all new cases of tuberculosis, collected information on patients and contacts, and obtained patient isolates. Seven genotyping laboratories performed DNA fingerprinting analysis by the international standard IS6110 method. BioImage Whole Band Analyzer software was used to analyze patterns, and distinct patterns were assigned unique designations. Isolates with six or fewer bands on IS6110 patterns were also spoligotyped. Patient data and genotyping designations were entered in a relational database and merged with selected variables from the national surveillance database. In two related databases, we compiled the results of routine contact investigations and the results of investigations of the relationships of patients who had isolates with matching genotypes. We describe the methods used in the study.

Highlights

The National Tuberculosis Genotyping and Surveillance Network was established in 1996 to perform a 5year, prospective study of the usefulness of genotyping Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates to tuberculosis control programs
Molecular characterization of strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been used for more than a decade to study the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB)
Before 1993, epidemiologic studies that used molecular characterization of M. tuberculosis were focused on populations, such as persons who were HIV positive or were in nosocomial settings [2,3,4]

Summary

TUBERCULOSIS GENOTYPING NETWORK

Seven genotyping laboratories performed DNA fingerprinting analysis by the international standard IS6110 method. In response to the upsurge of TB cases in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded regional laboratories to provide fingerprinting services to support TB control programs in outbreak investigations and to conduct studies on using DNA fingerprinting in TB epidemiology and control. This network was expanded to include sentinel surveillance sampling in 1996, when CDC established the National Tuberculosis Genotyping and Surveillance Network as a 5-year project.

Network Participants

Laboratory Protocols All National Tuberculosis Genotyping and Surveillance

Findings

Types of Articles