Nontuberculous mycobacteria in respiratory infections: advances in diagnosis and identification

Clin Lab Med. 2014 Jun;34(2):271-95. doi: 10.1016/j.cll.2014.03.001.

Abstract

An urgent question that needs to be addressed rapidly by the mycobacteriology laboratory is whether Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex or NTM is involved. NAA assays are excellent tools for the purpose, and can be used directly on the clinical specimens of patients suspected of having mycobacterial disease, allowing same-day reporting of results. The CDC recommends using both liquid and solid media for growth detection of mycobacteria to decrease the time to detection and to increase the yield of growth detection. DNA sequencing of variable genomic regions offers a rapid, accurate, and relatively inexpensive method for the identification of mycobacteria.

Keywords: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing; Identification; Mycobacterium; NTM; Nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / diagnosis*
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / drug therapy
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / epidemiology
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / microbiology*
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / classification
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / drug effects
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / diagnosis*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / drug therapy
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents