EXIT-RIF
In 2011, we initiated the study “Optimizing the impact of Xpert MTB/RIF on treatment outcomes of drug resistant TB”, funded by NIAID/NIH. The primary aim of the study was to compare important clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with rifampicin resistant TB by line probe assay or the Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Of the more than 700 individuals with rifampicin resistant TB diagnosed in three different provinces of South Africa and enrolled in the study, pretreatment samples were available for 330 participants. Whole genome sequencing results will be used to study the geographic genetic diversity of these drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. In addition, WGS data will be used to search for novel mutations including drug-resistance conferring mutations and compensatory mutations.