Nontuberculous Mycobacteria, Zambia

Abstract

Clinical relevance of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolated from 180 chronically ill patients and 385 healthy controls in Zambia was evaluated to examine the contribution of these isolates to tuberculosis (TB)-like disease. The proportion of NTM-positive sputum samples was signifi cantly higher in the patient group than in controls; 11% and 6%, respectively (p<0.05). NTM-associated lung disease was diagnosed for 1 patient, and a probable diagnosis was made for 3 patients. NTM-positive patients and controls were more likely to report vomiting and diarrhea and were more frequently underweight than the NTM-negative patients and controls. Chest radiographs of NTM-positive patients showed deviations consistent with TB more frequently than those of controls. The most frequently isolated NTM was Mycobacterium avium complex. Multiple, not previously identifi ed mycobacteria (55 of 171 NTM) were isolated from both groups. NTM probably play an important role in the etiology of TB-like diseases in Zambia.

Failing a re-treatment regimen does not predict MDR/XDR tuberculosis: is "blind" treatment dangerous?

“…The role of NTMs in the aetiology of TB-like syndromes has not been clearly elucidated in sub-Saharan African countries: a recently published comparative study supports a significant contribution [12]. In our series, a considerable proportion of NTMs were identified among both HIV-infected and uninfected chronic TB cases.…”

A laboratory-based study to identify and speciate non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated from specimens submitted to a central tuberculosis laboratory from throughout KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

“…This may not necessarily be due to a low incidence of NTM disease in developing countries, but rather result from less priority being given to NTM in regions where the TB burden is overwhelming. Buijtels et al [11] reported that in Zambia, a country with a high prevalence of TB, MAC was the most frequently isolated NTM. Similarly, a study identifying NTM from clinical specimens in Ethiopia showed MAC to be the predominant species, followed by M. abscessus, M. gordonae, M. simiae and M. fortuitum.…”

Gender-age distribution of tuberculosis among suspected tuberculosis cases in western Kenya

“…Not all acid-fast bacilli represent the M. tuberculosis complex. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria [18] and some other bacterial species including Nocardia species which are widespread19 yield positive results in ZN smear detection of acid-fast bacilli (AFB). For instance, in the present study, 4.2% (15/361) of the mycobacterial disease cases were NTM cases.…”