Low-level rifampin resistance and rpoB mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: An analysis of whole-genome sequencing and drug susceptibility test data in New York

Rapid and reliable detection of rifampin (RIF) resistance is critical for the diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant and multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis. Discordant RIF phenotype/genotype susceptibility results remain a challenge due to the presence of rpoB mutations which do not confer high levels of RIF resistance as have been exhibited in strains with mutations such as Ser450Leu.