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Species Spectrum of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Isolated from Clinical Specimens in Kuwait

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Abstract

Specific identification of mycobacteria is of clinical relevance since treatment varies according to the Mycobacterium species causing infection. All mycobacterial isolates are currently identified as M. tuberculosis (MTB) or nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) based on p-nitro-α-acetylamino-β-hydroxypropiophenone (NAP) test, and the species spectrum of NTM-causing infections in Kuwait remains unknown. This study identified all NTM strains isolated in Kuwait from 1 October 2003 to 31 March 2004 to the species level. The mycobacteria were cultured from various clinical specimens using the BACTEC 460 TB system and NAP test was performed to differentiate MTB from NTM strains. The INNO-LiPA MYCOBACTERIA v2 assay (LiPA) was used for species-specific identification of NTM strains and some randomly selected MTB strains. The LiPA results for selected isolates were confirmed by DNA sequencing of the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer region. A total of 325 isolates of Mycobacterium species originating from 305 individual patients were recovered during the study period, with 307 and 18 isolates identified as MTB and NTM, respectively. The LiPA correctly identified all 18 MTB isolates analyzed. Seven different NTM species were identified among 18 NTM isolates originating from 14 patients, with M. fortuitum causing the majority of NTM infections in Kuwait. One patient was infected with two NTM species. Rapid species-specific identification of NTM may help with appropriate treatment regimens for proper patient management.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by Kuwait University Research Grant MI 02/04.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat, 13110, Kuwait

    Eiman Mokaddas & Suhail Ahmad

Authors
  1. Eiman Mokaddas
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  2. Suhail Ahmad
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suhail Ahmad.

Additional information

The DNA sequencing data reported in this study are deposited in EMBL under accession numbers AM709724 to AM709731.

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Mokaddas, E., Ahmad, S. Species Spectrum of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Isolated from Clinical Specimens in Kuwait. Curr Microbiol 56, 413–417 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-008-9102-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-008-9102-3

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