Identification of a W Variant Outbreak of <EMPH TYPE="ITAL">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</EMPH> via Population-Based Molecular Epidemiology

Abstract

The implementation of multiple molecular techniques in conjunction with surveillance data enabled us to identify a previously undetected outbreak in a defined geographical setting. The outbreak isolates comprise members of a distinct branch of the W family phylogenetic lineage. The use of molecular strain typing provides a proactive approach that may be used to initiate, and not just augment, traditional surveillance outbreak investigations.