ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to define the effect of specific tubercle bacillus on a course of pulmonary tuberculosis and the role of atypical mycobacteria in the development of "nontuberculous mycobacterioses". A total of 1896 mycobacterial cultures isolated from 1285 patients were identified. Mycobacterial cultures from 86 patients were identified as M. bovis; mycobacteria of the "atypical" group from 12 patients were agents of nontuberculous mycobacterioses. Cultures in 7 patients were identified as M. avium. in 2 patients as M. xenopi, and in 3 as M. fortuitum. Therapeutic results showed an unfavorable course of tuberculosis caused by M. bovis (disintegration cavity closing in 40.7% only and bacillus elimination in 52.3% of the cases). A tendency to a torpid course and progression of nontuberculous mycobacterioses was noted. The best results were obtained with the use of a rapid method of i.v. injection of isoniazid and with the use of rifampicin.