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Atypical mycobacterial infection in patients with cystic fibrosis: update on clinical microbiology methods
Author(s) -
Jordan P.W.,
Stanley T.,
Donnelly F.M.,
Elborn J.S.,
McClurg R.B.,
Millar B.C.,
Goldsmith C.E.,
Moore J.E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2007.02130.x
Subject(s) - cystic fibrosis , nontuberculous mycobacteria , sputum , burkholderia , pseudomonas aeruginosa , mycobacterium abscessus , microbiology and biotechnology , burkholderia cepacia complex , isolation (microbiology) , biology , mycobacterium , medicine , immunology , bacteria , tuberculosis , pathology , genetics
Summary While patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have had dramatic improvement in their survival rates, this has been accompanied by the emergence of more virulent pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia complex organisms. In addition, there has been emergence of organisms of increasing clinical significance such as the nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM). Although TB infection in patients with CF is extremely uncommon, there is growing concern with regard to atypical Mycobacterium spp, in particular Mycobacterium abscessus . Many methods of decontamination of sputum, which have been adapted from TB methodologies, are ineffective; as shown by the overgrowth of P. aeruginosa , it is essential that decontamination methods are optimized to overcome this. Establishing optimal methods of isolation and determining accurate levels of prevalence is of importance as, although NTM may be isolated relatively infrequently in CF populations, their clinical status in pulmonary disease is now beginning to emerge.