PncA gene mutations associated with pyrazinamide resistance in drug-resistant Tuberculosis, South Africa and Georgia

Although pyrazinamide is commonly used for tuberculosis treatment, drug-susceptibility testing is not routinely available. We found polymorphisms in the pncA gene for 70% of multidrug-resistant and 96% of extensively drugresistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from South Africa and Georgia. Assessment of pyrazinamide susceptibility may be prudent before using it in regimens for drugresistant tuberculosis.