Transmission dynamics and attributable burden of tuberculosis among young and middle-aged adults in urban Shanghai: a genomic epidemiology study
Abstract
Background: China remains a high tuberculosis (TB) burden country, and large urban centers such as Shanghai continue to face persistent transmission challenges driven by high population mobility. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) provides high-resolution discrimination between recent transmission and reactivation; however, evidence at the district level remains limited. This study aimed to integrate WGS with epidemiological data to characterize local TB transmission dynamics in Xuhui District, Shanghai, and to identify demographic risk factors for recent transmission.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among culture-positive pulmonary TB cases diagnosed between August 2021 and February 2025. WGS was performed for all available Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates, and genomic clusters were defined using a threshold of ≤12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Epidemiological links were assessed through routine field investigations. Multivariable Firth penalized logistic regression and population attributable fraction (PAF) analyses were used to identify demographic predictors of recent transmission.
Results: Among 170 genotyped patients, the Beijing lineage predominated (90.0%, 153/170). Fluoroquinolone resistance mutations were detected in 12.4% of strains. Demographic disparities in sex and age were observed between local and migrant residents (both p p < 0.001). Notably, the joint PAF for individuals aged 15-44 years was 88.69%, with the 25-44-year age group accounting…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 170 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Synthesis, In Vitro and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies of Novel Phthalimide–Pyrimidine Hybrid Analogues to Thalidomide as Potent Antitubercular Agents
- Exploring the inhibitory performance of expired moxifloxacin and norfloxacin on copper corrosion in saline environment
- Molecular investigation of antimicrobial peptides against Helicobacter pylori proteins using a peptide-protein docking approach
- Screening of novel narrow-spectrum benzofuroxan derivatives for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis through in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches
- Synthesis, Characterization, Anticancer, Antioxidant, and In Silico Evaluation of Semicarbazides and Thiosemicarbazides
- Fast and accurate prediction of drug induced proarrhythmic risk with sex specific cardiac emulators
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.