MOLECULAR FINGERPRINTING OF MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS - HOW CAN IT HELP THE CLINICIAN

In just a few years, molecular fingerprinting of Mycobacterium tubercu losis has provided clinicians with significant insight into the epidem iology of tuberculosis. This methodology has allowed for a new underst anding of the extent of new transmission of tuberculosis among residen ts of various communities and within institutions, It has also allowed for differentiation between episodes of reinfection and relapse, a ta sk hitherto almost impossible to accomplish, In addition, molecular fi ngerprinting has allowed assessment of situations where laboratory cro ss-contamination is suspected, Thus, this technology has in many ways made clinicians reexamine many of their long-held beliefs regarding tu berculosis. In this report, Drs. Behr and Small provide a lucid descri ption of molecular fingerprinting of M. tuberculosis, its current uses , and its future potential value.