Occurrence of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterium in clinical samples - a potential pathogen.
Date
2013-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Background: Silent presence of non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) has been observed since the last 100 years, but
now the increasing incidence of NTM is of great concern for clinical microbiologists as well as clinicians. Although many
advanced efforts are being made for identification and control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, still the silently growing
menace of non-tuberculous mycobacteria is receiving negligible attention.
Objectives: This study was aimed to find NTMs in positive cultures and identify them up to species level.
Material & Methods: During the study period, i.e. from January 2009 to June 2011, a total of 4104 positive cultures were
subjected to species identification by different morphological and biochemical tests. All the tests for identification were
performed as per standard procedure along with the standard strains of NTM provided by JALMA, Agra.
Results: The identification of positive cultures showed 4044/15581 (25.95%) Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and
60/15581(0.38%) NTM. The mycobacterium species identification results showed that out of total 60 NTM, 21
different species of NTM were found and they belonged to all the four groups of runyon. The most common species
identified in this study was M.simiae (07) followed by M.avium(06), M.gordonae(05), M.kansasii(05), M.fortuitum(05),
M.chelonae(05), M.pheli(05), M.terrae(04), M.szulgai(02), M.vaccae(02), M.flavescens(02), M. trivale(02),
M.malmoense(01), M.scrofulaceum(01), M.intracellulare(01), M.xenopi(01), M.ulcerans(01), M.tusciae(01), M.triplex(01),
M.septicum(01), M.mucogenicum(01).
Conclusion: The isolation of NTMs from different clinical samples indicated that they may be the causative agents for
pulmonary and extra-pulmonary non-tuberculous diseases. Elaborate and focused studies are needed to differentiate NTMs
amongst commensal/colonizer, pathogen and laboratory contaminants.
Description
Keywords
Non-Tuberculous mycobacterium, Lowenstein Jensen medium, Mycobacterium avium
Citation
Myneedu V P, Verma A K, Bhalla M, Arora J, Reza S, Sah G C, Behera D. Occurrence of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterium in clinical samples - a potential pathogen. Indian Journal of Tuberculosis. 2013 Apr; 60(2): 71-76.