Prioritizing tuberculosis clusters by genotype for public health action, Washington, USA

Emerg Infect Dis. 2013 Mar;19(3):493-6. doi: 10.3201/eid1903.121453.

Abstract

Groups of tuberculosis cases with indistinguishable Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotypes (clusters) might represent recent transmission. We compared geospatial concentration of genotype clusters with independent priority rankings determined by local public health officials; findings were highly correlated. Routine use of geospatial statistics could help health departments identify recent disease transmission.

Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; TB; United States; Washington; clusters; disease outbreaks; genotype; genotyping; tuberculosis; tuberculosis and other mycobacteria.

MeSH terms

  • Cluster Analysis
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious
  • Genotype
  • Health Priorities*
  • Humans
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / epidemiology*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / transmission
  • Washington / epidemiology