Ruan Spies is a medical doctor and DPhil (PhD) candidate at the University of Oxford, based at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. His research focuses on tuberculosis epidemiology, using whole genome sequencing to understand the dynamics around transmission and the emergence of drug resistance.
Despite its more recent introduction, Lineage 2 dominates TB in Bhutan, with most MDR-TB cases clustered and primarily driven by local transmission rather than migration/reactivation. Targeted interventions to disrupt transmission in high-burden areas, will be crucial for effective TB prevention and care.
Source: Conference 2024Acquired resistance comprises ~15% of the RR-TB burden in Ho Chi Minh City and almost invariably follows pre-existing isoniazid resistance. These findings supporting expanding routine diagnostics to include rapid detection of isoniazid resistance, enabling timely treatment modification which may prevent acquired RR-TB.
Source: Conference 2024