Significance of mutations in embB codon 306 for prediction of ethambutol resistance in clinical Mycobactetium tuberculosis isolates

We analyzed 159 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates (101 ethambutol [EMB] -resistant strains, 33 multidrugresistant but not EMB-resistant strains, and 25 fully susceptible strains) for the presence of mutations in embB codon 306 (embB306). Mutations were detected only in EMB-resistant strains (n = 69; 68%), thus confirming the significance of embB306 mutations for the prediction of resistance to EMB.