Among 452 samples that were positive by the Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) assay and MGIT 960 system (MGIT), 440 and 10 Mycobacterium tuberculosis samples were detected as rifampin susceptible and rifampin resistant, respectively. Two isolates that were rifampin susceptible by the MGIT system were rifampin resistant by the Xpert assay. rpoB sequencing identified a silent (CTG521TTG) mutation in one isolate and a missense (GAC516TAC) mutation in another. The detection of rifampin resistance is imperfect with both the Xpert assay and MGIT system. Any discordant rifampin resistance results should be confirmed by sequencing of the rpoB gene.
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) (defined as infection with a Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain resistant to at least the two most effective, rifampin and isoniazid, anti-TB drugs) is prevalent throughout the world, difficult to treat, and associated with higher rates of clinical failure and disease relapse (1, 2). The rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis of MDR-TB is crucial for effective treatment, which will also limit the transmission of MDR-TB (2, 3). The resistance of M. tuberculosis to rifampin (RMP) in nearly 97% of isolates is due to mutations in an 81-bp rifampin resistance-determining region (RRDR) of the rpoB gene (4). Other RMP-resistant isolates contain mutations in either the N-terminal or cluster II region of the rpoB gene, or the resistance is due to other mechanisms (2, 4). Resistance to RMP is a key determinant in treatment failure and also correlates well with MDR-TB, since Ͼ85% of RMP-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates worldwide are also resistant to isoniazid (INH) (2-4). Molecular assays detect mutations in the RRDR of the rpoB gene for the rapid detection of RMP-resistant M. tuberculosis in clinical specimens and culture isolates (2, 3). The World Health Organization (WHO)-approved tests include two line probe assays, the INNO-LiPA Rif. TB (detecting resistance to RMP only) and the GenoType MTBDRplus (detecting resistance to RMP and INH), as well as the real-time PCR-based automated Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) assay (detecting resistance to RMP only) (3, 5). However, these tests are not specific, as silent mutations in the rpoB gene occasionally lead to the detection of false-positive RMP resistance (6-9). The current WHO recommendations are to use the Xpert assay as the initial diagnostic test and start treatment for MDR-TB if an RMP resistance result is expected, or, if unexpected, to repeat Xpert assay testing on another sputum sample, particularly in settings in which the prevalence of RMP-resistant TB is Ͻ15% (10). For those settings, treatment for MDR-TB should be initiated when the Xpert assay repeatedly detects RMP resistance. Treatment should be optimized by following susceptibility testing with other first-line and second-line drugs and confirmatory testing for RMP resistance by phenotypic or other genotypic methods; any discordant RMP susceptibility results can be resolved by sequencing of the rpoB gene (10).Phenotypic drug susceptibility testing ...