A prospective study on the long-term storage of sputum and the recovery of nontuberculous mycobacteria.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is little information on the optimal storage conditions for recovery of nontuberculous Mycobacterium spp. (NTM) from refrigerated sputum.

Objectives

We investigated the storage duration that could increase the culture-positive rate of NTM isolates.

Design

In this prospective study, we collected NTM isolates and clinical data from patients with repeated culture-positive NTM pulmonary disease (NTM-PD).

Methods

From June 2020 to July 2021, the participants were instructed to randomly collect six sputum samples and immediately store them in a refrigerator at 4°C until the date of their clinic visit. At the outpatient visits, expectorated spot sputum samples were collected.

Results

A total of 226 sputum samples were collected from 35 p

SUBMITTER: Kwon BS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10126590 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature