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Annual Review of Microbiology 1998Nosocomial outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks caused by the nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been recognized for more than 20 years and continue to be a problem. Most... (Review)
Review
Nosocomial outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks caused by the nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been recognized for more than 20 years and continue to be a problem. Most of these outbreaks have involved the rapidly growing mycobacterial species Mycobacterium fortuitum and M. abscessus. The reservoir for these outbreaks is generally municipal and (often separate) hospital water supplies. These mycobacterial species and others are incredibly hardy, able to grow in municipal and distilled water, thrive at temperatures of 45 degrees C or above (M. xenopi and M. avium complex), and resist the activity of organomercurials, chlorine, 2% concentrations of formaldehyde and alkaline glutaraldehyde, and other commonly used disinfectants. Disease outbreaks usually involve sternal wound infections, plastic surgery wound infections, or postinjection abscesses. Pseudo-outbreaks most commonly relate to contaminated bronchoscopes and endoscopic cleaning machines (M. abscessus) and contaminated hospital water supplies (M. xenopi). Knowledge of the reservoir of these species, their great survival capabilities within the hospital, and newer molecular techniques for strain comparison have helped control and more quickly identify current nosocomial outbreaks or pseudo-outbreaks caused by the NTM.
Topics: Bronchoscopy; Chlorine; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Formaldehyde; Humans; Injections; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Organomercury Compounds; Surgery, Plastic; Water Microbiology; Water Supply; Wound Infection
PubMed: 9891805
DOI: 10.1146/annurev.micro.52.1.453 -
International Journal of... Jun 2015Pulmonary infections with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are recognized as a problem in immunodeficient individuals and are increasingly common in older people with... (Review)
Review
Pulmonary infections with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are recognized as a problem in immunodeficient individuals and are increasingly common in older people with no known immune defects. NTM are found in soil and water, but factors influencing transmission from the environment to humans are mostly unknown. Studies of the epidemiology of NTM disease have matched some clinical isolates of NTM with isolates from the patient's local environment. Definitive matching requires strain level differentiation based on molecular analyses, including partial sequencing, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR, repetitive element (rep-) PCR and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of large restriction fragments. These approaches have identified hospital and residential showers and faucets, hot-tubs and garden soil as sources of transmissible pathogenic NTM. However, gaps exist in the literature, with many clinical isolates remaining unidentified within environments that have been tested, and few studies investigating NTM transmission in developing countries. To understand the environmental reservoirs and transmission routes of pathogenic NTM, different environments, countries and climates must be investigated.
Topics: Environmental Microbiology; Humans; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
PubMed: 26972876
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmyco.2015.03.002 -
International Journal of... Jun 2015Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental microbes that cause a variety of diseases both in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. Epidemiologic data... (Review)
Review
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental microbes that cause a variety of diseases both in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. Epidemiologic data indicate that there has been a global rise in the incidence of NTM infections. It has also been noted that NTM infections have a predilection to occur in postmenopausal women. In a recent study, it was demonstrated that in patients with non-CF bronchiectasis the probability of NTM isolation was significantly higher in elderly female patients and in those with a low body mass index. However, the mechanisms of causality of these gender differences and morpho-phenotypes remain enigmatic. The present study reviews the data and plausible mechanisms which might provide clues to this gender susceptibility and morpho-phenotypes of patients with bronchiectasis and NTM.
Topics: Bronchiectasis; Disease Susceptibility; Female; Humans; Male; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Sex Factors
PubMed: 26097805
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmyco.2015.05.002 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Nov 2003The degree of cell clumping increased with time of storage (1% cell clumps immediately after homogenization and 3 and 6.5% after 48 and 96 h of storage, respectively),...
The degree of cell clumping increased with time of storage (1% cell clumps immediately after homogenization and 3 and 6.5% after 48 and 96 h of storage, respectively), and the number of living single cells decreased. Quantitative carrier tests were carried out with these cells using ortho-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) and coco fatty aminoxethylate as biocides. In contrast to OPA, with coco fatty aminoxethylate the reductions obtained with freshly homogenized mycobacteria were significantly higher (P = 0.02) than those obtained with mycobacteria kept in the refrigerator for 4 days. Therefore, it is advisable to prepare the test suspension freshly for each test.
Topics: Colony Count, Microbial; Disinfectants; Equipment Contamination; Europe; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Specimen Handling; o-Phthalaldehyde
PubMed: 14602657
DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.11.6932-6934.2003 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Mar 2011To characterize the distribution of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species isolated from pulmonary samples from persons in Asia and their association with pulmonary... (Review)
Review
To characterize the distribution of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species isolated from pulmonary samples from persons in Asia and their association with pulmonary infections, we reviewed the literature. Mycobacterium avium complex bacteria were most frequently isolated (13%-81%) and were the most common cause of pulmonary NTM disease (43%-81%). Also pathogenic were rapidly growing mycobacteria (M. chelonae, M. fortuitum, M. abscessus). Among all NTM isolated from pulmonary samples, 31% (582/1,744) were considered clinically relevant according to American Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria. Most patients were male (79%) and had a history of tuberculosis (37%). In Asia, high prevalence of rapidly growing mycobacteria and a history of tuberculosis are distinct characteristics of pulmonary NTM disease. This geographic variation is not well reflected in the American Thoracic Society criteria for NTM infections and could be incorporated in future guidelines.
Topics: Aged; Asia, Eastern; Female; Humans; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Prevalence; Respiratory Tract Infections
PubMed: 21392422
DOI: 10.3201/eid1703.100604 -
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious... 1993A radiometric respirometric technique (Bactec) which is highly standardized for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was used for antibiotic susceptibility testing of clinical... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
A radiometric respirometric technique (Bactec) which is highly standardized for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was used for antibiotic susceptibility testing of clinical isolates of M. marinum. Ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, rifampicin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole were effective at clinically relevant concentrations. Doxycycline, erythromycin and roxithromycin were ineffective. These in vitro results are discussed in relation to documented clinical experience.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
PubMed: 8052821
DOI: 10.3109/00365549309008579 -
Infection, Genetics and Evolution :... Aug 2019Accumulating evidence suggests that human infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasing worldwide, indicating that NTM disease is no longer... (Review)
Review
Accumulating evidence suggests that human infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasing worldwide, indicating that NTM disease is no longer uncommon in many countries. As a result of an increasing emphasis on the importance of differential identification of NTM species, several molecular tools have recently been introduced in clinical and experimental settings. These advances have led to a much better understanding of the diversity of NTM species with regard to clinical aspects and the potential factors responsible for drug resistance that influence the different outcomes of NTM disease. In this paper, we review currently available molecular diagnostics for identification and differentiation of NTM species by summarizing data from recently applied methods, including commercially available assays, and their relevant strengths and weaknesses. We also highlight drug resistance-associated genes in clinically important NTM species. Understanding the basis for different treatment outcomes with different causative species and drug-resistance mechanisms will eventually improve current treatment regimens and facilitate the development of better control measures for NTM diseases.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Humans; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Mycobacterium abscessus; Mycobacterium avium Complex; Mycobacterium kansasii; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Pathology, Molecular
PubMed: 30315892
DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.10.003 -
Reviews of Infectious Diseases 1981Fifty mycobacterial strains were isolated from freshly imported tuberculin-negative Macacus rhesus and Cercopithecus ethiops monkeys. Of these strains, 14 were...
Fifty mycobacterial strains were isolated from freshly imported tuberculin-negative Macacus rhesus and Cercopithecus ethiops monkeys. Of these strains, 14 were identified as Mycobacterium simiae and 4, as Mycobacterium asiaticum. These two species are slow growing with a delayed photochromogenicity. M. Simiae is niacin-positive. Both species are resistant to the antituberculous chemotherapeutic compounds streptomycin, isoniazid, p-aminosalicylate, and rifampin but are sensitive to cycloserine. The two species are virulent for white mice. Infection is contagious; 25% of noninfected cage mates become infected during 12--60 days of exposure to infected animals. Intrauterine transmission of infection also occurs. Utilizing the gel-precipitation method, we have observed up to 16 antigens in each species. Four to six antigens are shared with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mycobacterium species strain 52 is antigenically distinct. The 14 strains of M. simiae belong to two serotypes. Mycobacterium habana belongs to M. simiae serotype 1.
Topics: Animals; Haplorhini; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mycobacterium; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
PubMed: 6803323
DOI: 10.1093/clinids/3.5.1040 -
PloS One 2013Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacterial species that has been associated with a wide spectrum of human infections. As the...
Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacterial species that has been associated with a wide spectrum of human infections. As the classification and biology of this organism is still not well understood, comparative genomic analysis on members of this species may provide further insights on their taxonomy, phylogeny, pathogenicity and other information that may contribute to better management of infections. The MabsBase described in this paper is a user-friendly database providing access to whole-genome sequences of newly discovered M. abscessus strains as well as resources for whole-genome annotations and computational predictions, to support the expanding scientific community interested in M. abscessus research. The MabsBase is freely available at http://mabscessus.um.edu.my.
Topics: Databases, Genetic; Genome, Bacterial; Humans; Molecular Sequence Annotation; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Phylogeny; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 23658631
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062443 -
Water Environment Research : a Research... Jun 2006Mycobacteria naturally aggregate in water, a characteristic that may serve to protect them against disinfection in wastewater. Secondary effluent was spiked with...
Mycobacteria naturally aggregate in water, a characteristic that may serve to protect them against disinfection in wastewater. Secondary effluent was spiked with Mycobacterium terrae (M. terrae), sequentially filtered through 100-, 41-, and 20-microm nylon filters to partition aggregate sizes, confirmed using particle-size analysis and microscopy. Each sample was exposed to doses of UV light (10 to 60 mJ/cm2 at 254 nm) and free chlorine (27 to 150 mg-min/L at 4 degrees C). Inactivation of M. terrae in wastewater was initially rapid, with 2.5 log reduction at 14 mJ/cm2 and 56 mg-min/L for UV and free chlorine, respectively. However, in effluent and 100-microm filtered wastewater, spiked M. terrae was present to the highest doses evaluated. Interestingly, M. terrae passed through 41- and 20-microm filters were inactivated rapidly, with no survivors after moderate disinfection doses. Inactivation of Mycobacteria in wastewater may be compromised by aggregates larger than 41 microns.
Topics: Chlorine; Disinfection; Filtration; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Particle Size; Time Factors; Ultraviolet Rays; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 16894982
DOI: 10.2175/106143006x99795