1. Molecular and genomic typing for tuberculosis surveillance: a survey study in 26 European countries
- Author
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Andres, Marta, Werf, Marieke J. Van Der, Ködmön, Csaba, Albrecht, Stefan, Haas, Walter, and Fiebig, Lena
- Subjects
tuberculosis, epidemiology, public health infectious disease surveillance, molecular typing, molecular epidemiology, whole-genome-sequencing, Europe ,3. Good health - Abstract
Molecular typing and whole genome sequencing (WGS) information is used for (inter-) national outbreak investigations. To assist the implementation of these techniques for tuberculosis (TB) surveillance and outbreak investigations at European level there is a need for inter-country collaboration and standardization. We aimed to review the use of molecular/genomic typing for TB surveillance in European Union and European Economic Area countries in 2016; assess its public health value; and collect experiences on typing data use for cross-border cluster investigations. A web-based questionnaire was provided to all TB National Focal Points. Our survey shows that most EU/EEA Member States use molecular/genomic typing data for TB surveillance and the transition to WGS is ongoing. Our results also reveal substantial differences in the use and integration of typing data into national TB surveillance systems and identify financial constraints as the main barrier to a broader use, as well as limited experience in cross-border cluster investigation and a lack of respective SOPs. Most countries recognized a public health benefit of molecular typing and an additional benefit of using WGS-based typing.