The Evolution of Drug Resistance inMycobacterium tuberculosis:From a Mono–Rifampin‐Resistant Cluster into Increasingly Multidrug‐Resistant Variants in an HIV‐Seropositive Population

We describe the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of a mono-rifampin-resistant (RIF(R)) Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain cluster (designated AU-RIF(R)) and the acquisition of additional drug resistance. Drug susceptibility, sequences of regions that determine drug resistance, and basic clinical data were examined. A rare codon duplication (514(TTC)) in rpoB conferring high levels of RIFR (minimum inhibitory concentration of > 256 mu g/mL) in 29 isolates was identified. AU-RIF(R) strains developed secondary resistance to isoniazid and 7 resistance combinations to 6 different antibiotics. Patients infected with AU-RIFR strains were primarily immunocompromised. These data suggest that host factors, such as HIV status, may allow dissemination of mono-RIF(R) strains and facilitate the accumulation of additional drug resistance.