ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To collect data on non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolated from clinical laboratories in different countries to establish: 1) whether the isolation of NTM was increasing, 2) which species were increasing, and 3) whether there was any pattern of geographical distribution. DESIGN: In 1996, the Working Group of the Bacteriology and Immunology Section of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease contacted 50 laboratories in different countries for the necessary information. RESULTS: The number of patients reported with NTM was 36099 from 14 countries. Mycobacterium avium complex, M. gordonae, M. xenopi, M. kansasii and M. fortuitum were the five species most frequently isolated. There was a significant upward trend for M. avium complex and M. xenopi. Pigmented mycobacteria predominated in Belgium, the Czech Republic and the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Non-chromogenic mycobacteria were found to be predominant in the area of the Atlantic coast of Brazil and in Turkey, the United Kingdom, Finland and Denmark. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increase in the number of NTM isolated from clinical samples of patients. Isolation of the most frequent species is constantly changing in most of the geographical areas, and newer species are emerging due to better diagnostic techniques to detect and identify NTM.
Subject(s)
Mycobacterium/isolation & purification , Brazil , Europe , Iran , Mycobacterium avium Complex/isolation & purification , Mycobacterium fortuitum/isolation & purification , Mycobacterium kansasii/isolation & purification , Mycobacterium xenopi/isolation & purification , Nontuberculous Mycobacteria/isolation & purification , Retrospective Studies , TurkeyABSTRACT
Se estudiaron 6 472 muestras clinicas de pacientes con sospecha de tuberculosis entre marzo de 1993 a marzo de 1994. Se obtuvieron resultados positivos en 443 pacientes; 238 correspondieron al sexo femenino (53,7 por ciento) y 205 (46,3 por ciento) al masculino, predomino el grupo de edad entre 30 y 39 anos (31,5 por ciento). La prueba cutanea de sensibilidad al derivado proteico purificado (PPD) fue positiva en 178 pacientes con un rango de 10-14 mm. Se encontraron imagenes radiologicas anormales en 222 pacientes (50,1 por ciento). Se detecto mayor frecuencia de resistencia en las cepas de Mycobacterium tuberculosis en casos con tuberculosis pulmonar. Cuarenta y dos cepas (9,5 por ciento) fueron resistentes a la isoniacida y 31 (7,0 por ciento) a la estreptomicina. Se registro resistencia a 1 droga en 25 aislamientos (5,4 por ciento). Pocas cepas (1,3 por ciento) resultaron resistentes a 3 drogas y 1 de ellas a 5 drogas. Los datos clinicos y epidemiologicos sugieren que la resistencia a las drogas en la tuberculosis comienza a ser un problema importante en la region. El diagnostico rapido de esta infeccion y el uso de antibioticos con un espectro reducido puede facilitar el control de esta forma de tuberculosis
Subject(s)
Drug Resistance, Microbial , Iran , Isoniazid , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification , Streptomycin , Tuberculosis, PulmonaryABSTRACT
Se describe un nuevo medio solido para la rapida deteccion de Borrelia persica y Borrelia microti. Corrientemente el cultivo y aislamiento de Borrelia demora alrededor de 21 dias. El examen serologico mas frecuentemente realizado demora menos tiempo pero esta asociado con resultados falsos positivos relativamente altos. Sin embargo, nuestro nuevo medio solido reduce el tiempo de cultivo a 72 horas, lo que permite un rapido diagnostico de la enfermedad causada por Borrelia persica y Borrelia microti y el inicio temprano del tratamiento en estos pacientes
Subject(s)
Animals , Borrelia Infections/diagnosis , Borrelia Infections/therapy , Borrelia/isolation & purification , False Positive ReactionsABSTRACT
A new solid means for the fast detection of Borrelia persica and Borrelia microti is described. Generally, culture and isolation of Borrelia takes about 21 days. The serological test, which is carried out more often, takes less time but it is associated with false positive reactions relatively high. However, our new solid means reduces the culture time to 72 hours, allowing to have a fast diagnosis of the disease caused by Borrelia persica and Borrelia microti, and to start the early treatment of these patients.
Subject(s)
Borrelia/growth & development , Culture Media/chemistry , Animals , Borrelia/classification , Colony Count, Microbial , Guinea Pigs , MiceABSTRACT
6,472 clinical samples of patients with tuberculosis suspicion between March, 1993 and March, 1994, were studied. Positive results were obtained in 443 patients; 238 females (53.7%) and 205 males (46.3%). The predominant age group was that between 30 and 39 years (31.5%). The cutaneous test of sensitivity to the purified protein derivate (PPD) was positive in 178 patients with a range of 10-14 mm. Abnormal radiological images were found in 222 patients (50.1%). Higher resistance frequency was detected in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains among cases suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. 42 (9.5%) strains were resistant to isoniazid and 31 (7.0%) to streptomycin. Resistance to one drug was observed in 25 isolations (5.4%). A few strains (1.3%) were resistant to 3 drugs, and 1 of them to 5 drugs. Clinical and epidemiological data suggest that resistance to drugs in tuberculosis is becoming an important problem in the region. The fast diagnosis of this infection and the use of antibiotics with a reduced spectrum may enable the control of this form of tuberculosis.