Prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria among extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases in tertiary care centers in Northern India

Biomed Res Int. 2015:2015:465403. doi: 10.1155/2015/465403. Epub 2015 Mar 26.

Abstract

The reports of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) associated with extrapulmonary diseases are increasing in tertiary care hospitals. Despite a significant increase in knowledge about NTM infections, they still represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The aim of this study is to know the prevalence of NTN among extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases in tertiary care centers in Northern India. A total of 227 culture positive isolates from 756 cases were tested for niacin production and catalase assay. BIO-LINE SD Ag MPT64 TB test and final identification and differentiation between MTBC and different species of NTM were further confirmed by GenoType Mycobacterium CM/AS assay. 71 cases (9.3%) were positive for AFB by ZN staining and 227 cases (30.1%) were positive for mycobacteria by culture. Niacin production and catalase activity were negative in 62/227 (27.4%) strains and after using a panel of different biochemicals and final confirmation by GenoType Mycobacterium CM assay. Out of 227 cultures tested, 165 (72.6%) strains were confirmed as M. tuberculosis complex, and 62 (27.4%) were confirmed as NTM. The most common NTM species identified were M. fortuitum 17 (27.5%) and M. intracellulare 13 (20.9%). The rapid identification of NTM species may help in targeted therapy and management of the diseases.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Typing Techniques*
  • Female
  • Genotype*
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium* / classification
  • Mycobacterium* / genetics
  • Mycobacterium* / isolation & purification
  • Prevalence
  • Tertiary Care Centers
  • Tuberculosis* / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis* / genetics
  • Tuberculosis* / microbiology