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ABSTRACT: Recently, the incidence of human mycobacterial infections due to species other than M. tuberculosis has increased worldwide. Since disease control depends on appropriate antimicrobial therapy, the precise identification of
these species of clinical importance has become a major public health concern. Identification of mycobacteria has been hampered
because of the lack of specific, rapid, and inexpensive methods. Therefore, we aimed at designing and validating a bacterial
lysate-based polymerase chain reaction identification scheme. This scheme can classify clinical isolates into: (1) the genus
Mycobacterium, (2) the M. tuberculosis complex, (3) the nontuberculous mycobacteria, and (4) the species M. avium, M. intracellulare, M. abscessus, M. chelonae, M. fortuitum and M. bovis of clinical importance, and M. gordonae, the most commonly encountered nonpathogenic species in clinical laboratories. By using M. fortuitum and M. avium lysates as models, the method sensitivity was determined to be 372pg of DNA. In a blind parallel comparison between our
approach and conventional biochemical tests, both assays correctly categorized 75 patient’s mycobacterial isolates. However,
our approach only required 4–9 h for categorization compared with at least 15days by conventional tests. Furthermore, our
methodology could also detect M. fortuitum and M. avium from liquid cultures, after only 2 and 6days, respectively, of incubation. Our new identification scheme is therefore sensitive,
specific, rapid, and economic. Additionally, it can help to provide proper treatment to patients, to control these diseases,
and to improve our knowledge of the epidemiology of mycobacteriosis, all urgently needed, particularly in developing countries.
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology 04/2012; 27(6):451-459. · 2.86 Impact Factor
