Background -Patients with non-tuberculous mycobacteria are usually started on conventional antituberculous triple therapy once acid fast bacilli are detected, before the exact type of mycobacteria has been identified. The ability to identify the characteristics of patients with tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria may be helpful in identifying before treatment those patients more likely to have non-tuberculous infection. Methods -A retrospective study was conducted of all patients in one unit in whom non-tuberculous mycobacteria were identified in sputum or bronchoalveolar washings in the period 1987-93.
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