Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis ‘prevalent in high-risk UK groups’

High-risk groups in the UK remain susceptible to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), according to a new study from Public Health England.

Published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the study examined the genetic code from every UK patient diagnosed between 2004 to 2007 in order to see which cases were genuinely associated with one another through person-to-person spread, and which were sporadic.

It was revealed that the condition most commonly spreads between people who have a history of drug use or within specific ethnic communities, suggesting these groups could benefit from a dedicated community-based outreach service.

According to Public Health England, this also demonstrates the importance of genetic strain typing of multidrug resistant tuberculosis to increase case identification.

Ibrahim Abubakar, head of tuberculosis at Public Health England and professor of infectious disease epidemiology at University College London, said: "It's very important that health commissioners, especially in parts of the country with the highest rates of TB, prioritise the delivery of appropriate clinical and public health TB services."

In the last 20 years, TB cases have gradually increased, particularly among ethnic minority communities who are originally from places where TB is more common.