OBJECTIVE: To investigate the recovery rate of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-positive sputum specimens at a tertiary care medical centre in South Korea with a high pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) burden. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data from AFB smear- and culture-positive sputum specimens collected between January 1998 and December 2001. RESULTS: Over 4 years, 1328 sputum specimens collected from 616 patients were AFB smear- and culture-positive. NTM were recovered from 9.1% (121/1328) of the smear-positive sputum specimens, and from 8.1% (50/616) of patients with smear-positive sputum. NTM were isolated at least twice in 94% (47/50) of the patients from whom NTM was recovered. The most common organism found was Mycobacterium avium complex, followed by M. abscessus. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a substantial proportion of patients at a tertiary care medical centre in South Korea with AFB smear-positive sputum specimens may have NTM lung disease rather than PTB.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the recovery rate of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-positive sputum specimens at a tertiary care medical centre in South Korea with a high pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) burden. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data from AFB smear- and culture-positive sputum specimens collected between January 1998 and December 2001. RESULTS: Over 4 years, 1328 sputum specimens collected from 616 patients were AFB smear- and culture-positive. NTM were recovered from 9.1% (121/1328) of the smear-positive sputum specimens, and from 8.1% (50/616) of patients with smear-positive sputum. NTM were isolated at least twice in 94% (47/50) of the patients from whom NTM was recovered. The most common organism found was Mycobacterium avium complex, followed by M. abscessus. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a substantial proportion of patients at a tertiary care medical centre in South Korea with AFB smear-positive sputum specimens may have NTM lung disease rather than PTB.
Authors: Hye Yun Park; Won-Jung Koh; O Jung Kwon; Nam Yong Lee; Young Mog Shim; Young Kil Park; Gill Han Bai; Ho-Suk Mun; Bum-Joon Kim Journal: Yonsei Med J Date: 2007-10-31 Impact factor: 2.759
Authors: Young Kil Park; Won-Jung Koh; Shin Ok Kim; Sonya Shin; Bum Joon Kim; Sang-Nae Cho; Sun Min Lee; Chulhun L Chang Journal: J Korean Med Sci Date: 2009-06-15 Impact factor: 2.153