Differentiation between re-infection and relapse in Indian patients with tuberculosis recurrence

Differentiation between relapse and reinfection in cases with tuberculosis (TB) recurrence has important implications for clinical management and public health, especially in cases with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection. Eighty-two paired M. tuberculosis isolates collected from 20 HIV-positive and 21 HIV-negative patients who experienced TB recurrence after previous successful treatment completion were subjected to whole genome sequencing (WGS), in addition to spoligotyping and mycobacterial interspersed repeat unit (MIRU) typing.