ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

Research Article | Open Access
Venkata Giri Prasad Polu1, Basireddy Sreekanth Reddy2, Kota Neela Mani Kanta3, Mithun Roy4, Benson Wesly Buraga5, Kannan Natarajan6, Bojjireddy Venkata Subba Reddy7, Suneel Reddy Alla8, Kogila Sreeja Vamsi9, Mugudalabetta Shiva Kumar1 and Uday Sankar Allam5
1Damien Foundation India Trust, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
2Department of Microbiology, Govt. Medical College Paderu, Andhra Pradesh, India.
3Department of Tourism Management, Vikrama Simhapuri University, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
4Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Manipur, Langol, Imphal, Manipur, India.
5Department of Biotechnology, Vikrama Simhapuri University College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
6Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Chinthareddypalem, SPSR Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
7Department of Social Work, Vikrama Simhapuri University College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
8Department of Food Microbiology, College of Community Science, Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
9Department of Microbiology, SVS Medical College, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India.
Article Number: 10068 | © The Author(s). 2025
J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2025;19(4):2974-2988. https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.19.4.38
Received: 17 November 2024 | Accepted: 15 August 2025 | Published online: 27 November 2025
Issue online: December 2025
Abstract

The rise of pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (TB) represents a serious threat to global health. This research investigates resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) clinical isolates to fluoroquinolones (FQs) and second-line injectable drugs (SLIDs). The samples were collected as part of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) at Damien Urban TB and Leprosy Center, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. The study further explores genetic mutations linked to drug resistance. A sum of 954 clinical isolates were examined over a year using GenoType MTBDRsl VER 2.0. Among these, 759 isolates were sensitive to both FQs and SLIDs, while 103 exhibited resistance to one or more SLIDs. A total of 86 isolates exhibited resistance to FQs, 11 to SLIDs, and 6 to both. Genetic analysis of the gyrA gene revealed frequent mutations at codons 90, 91, and 94, with the highest occurrence at position 94. Within the 16S rRNA rrs gene, the G1484T mutation was dominant, followed by A1401G. Additionally, alterations in the eis promoter region, especially the C-14T substitution, were observed. Fifteen isolates displayed hetero-resistance, meaning both drug-resistant and drug-susceptible bacterial populations coexisted within the same sample. Furthermore, 31 isolates carried unidentified mutations, emphasizing the genetic complexity of MTB resistance mechanisms. These findings highlight the necessity for continuous surveillance and genetic analysis to better understand and manage drug-resistant TB.

Keywords

Pre-XDR-TB, XDR-TB, Fluoroquinolone Resistance, Second-line Injectable Drugs, Genetic Alterations, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Antimicrobial Resistance

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