You are here:
HUMAN INFECTION WITH NONTUBERCULOUS MYCOBACTERIA SPP. IN KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, 1999-2002
Citation:
Hilborn, E D., T C. Covert, G N. Stelma Jr., M Schmitt, AND M. Yakrus. HUMAN INFECTION WITH NONTUBERCULOUS MYCOBACTERIA SPP. IN KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, 1999-2002. Presented at International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, GA, February 29 - March 3, 2004.
Description:
Human infection with nontuberculous Mycobacteria spp. in King County, Washington, 1999 - 2002
E Hilborn, T Covert, M Yakrus, G Stelma, M Schmitt
1) US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC
2) US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH
3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center of Infectious Disease, Atlanta, GA
Background: Pathogenic nontuberculous Mycobacteria spp. (NTM) are not known to be transmitted among persons, but may be acquired from exposure to contaminated media such as soil, food and water. We examined the spectrum of NTM isolated from human specimens in King County, WA.
Methods: NTM were isolated from clinical specimens collected during 1999 - 2002 from patients residing in King Co., Washington. Participating laboratories collected isolates, the date and anatomical site of specimen collection, and home zip code of the patient. NTM species were identified using multiple laboratory methods (molecular probe, biochemical characterization, high performance liquid chromatography). Data were analyzed with SAS 8.2. Isolates were described by species and anatomic site. Analysis of potential differences among specimens' date of collection was performed.
Results: A total of 507 NTM isolates were obtained from specimens collected during 1999 - 2002. NTM isolate numbers ranged from: 113 isolated from specimens collected during 2000, to 152 isolated from specimens collected during 1999. Species level identification occurred in 94% (476/507) of isolates. Slow-growers comprised 83% (396/476) of isolates. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) comprised 66% (256/396) of the slow-growers. MAC were isolated from 203 respiratory sites (80%), 37 sterile sites (14%), 1 stool (0.4%) and 15 other sites (6%). The 80 rapid growers were isolated from 56 respiratory sites (70%), 9 sterile sites (16%), and 14 other sites (25%). One site was unknown. Rapid growers were not all identified to the species level. No difference was seen in the number of isolates when compared among month or season of specimen collection.
Conclusions: Slow-growing species were identified in the majority of isolates. MAC was the most common NTM isolated from clinical specimens and from sterile sites. Respiratory specimens yielded the most NTM isolates, including those species not typically associated with infection. No evidence of seasonality was found. This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.