Tuberculosis due to resistant Haarlem strain, Tunisia.

Helmi Mardassi (1) , Amine Namouchi (1) , Raja Haltiti (2) , Mourad Zarrouk (2) , Besma Mhenni (1) , Anis Karboul (1) , Neila Khabouchi (1) , Nico C Gey van Pittius (3) , Elizabeth M Streicher (3) , Jean Rauzier (4) , Brigette Gicquel (4) , Koussay Dellagi (1)

1 Institut Pasteur de Tunis
2 Hôpital régional de Menzel-Bourguiba
3 Stellenbosch University
4 IP - Institut Pasteur [Paris]

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was diagnosed in 21 HIV-negative, nonhospitalized male patients residing in northern Tunisia. A detailed investigation showed accelerated transmission of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis clone of the Haarlem type in 90% of all patients. This finding highlights the epidemic potential of this prevalent genotype.

Helmi Mardassi, Amine Namouchi, Raja Haltiti, Mourad Zarrouk, Besma Mhenni, et al.. Tuberculosis due to resistant Haarlem strain, Tunisia.. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2005, 11 (6), pp.957-61. ⟨10.3201/eid1106.041365⟩. ⟨pasteur-00874087⟩