Isolation of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in children investigated for pulmonary tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the frequency and clinical significance of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolates among children investigated for pulmonary tuberculosis in a rural South African community.

Methods

Children were investigated for pulmonary tuberculosis as part of a tuberculosis vaccine surveillance program (2001-2005). The clinical features of children in whom NTM were isolated, from induced sputum or gastric lavage, were compared to those with culture-proven M. tuberculosis.

Results

Mycobacterial culture demonstrated 114 NTM isolates from 109 of the 1,732 children investigated, a crude yield of 6% (95% CI 5-7). The comparative yield of positive NTM cultures from gastric lavage was 40% (95% CI 31-50), compared to 67% (95% CI 58-76) from induced sputum. 95% of

SUBMITTER: Hatherill M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1762386 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature