Modification of results of drug susceptibility tests by coexistence of Mycobacterium avium complex with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a sputum sample: case report and experimental considerations

K Suzuki; T Kimoto; K Tsuyuguchi; H Matsumoto; A Niimi; E Tanaka; T Murayama; R Amitani

doi:10.1128/JCM.36.9.2745-2747.1998

Modification of results of drug susceptibility tests by coexistence of Mycobacterium avium complex with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a sputum sample: case report and experimental considerations

J Clin Microbiol. 1998 Sep;36(9):2745-7. doi: 10.1128/JCM.36.9.2745-2747.1998.

Authors

K Suzuki¹, T Kimoto, K Tsuyuguchi, H Matsumoto, A Niimi, E Tanaka, T Murayama, R Amitani

Affiliation

¹ Department of Infection and Inflammation, Chest Disease Research Institute, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606 Japan. ksuzuki@chest.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Abstract

We report on a patient whose sputum contained both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). The MAC failed to be detected by the PCR-based AMPLICOR test. The unrecognized coexistence of MAC in the sample modified the results of drug susceptibility tests. Experiments revealed that the presence of both M. tuberculosis and MAC was not detected by the AMPLICOR test under certain conditions.

Publication types

Case Reports
Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Humans
Male
Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods
Middle Aged
Mycobacterium avium Complex / classification
Mycobacterium avium Complex / drug effects
Mycobacterium avium Complex / isolation & purification*
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / complications*
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / diagnosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis / classification
Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects
Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification*
Sputum / microbiology*
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / complications*
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis