title: Identification of contaminants during primary isolation of mycobacteria in the BACTEC system with the antimicrobial supplement PACT.
abstract: 1500 sputum specimens and bronchial washings were cultured for mycobacteria. One half of the specimen was treated with N-acetyl-L-cysteine--sodium hydroxide (3%) (NALC) and the other with sodium dodecyl (lauryl) sulfate--sodium hydroxide (1%) (SDS). The different species of contaminants found with each pretreatment method with the BACTEC radiometric system were identified. Contamination occurred in 6% by using SDS and in 10% by using NALC. The SDS method was more effective against Bacillus ssp. and Streptomyces ssp., the major contaminants. However, the growth of Pseudomonas ssp. was a problem in both methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salfinger
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Kafader
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hardegger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wüst
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001407:Bacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D001980:Bronchi / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D000111:Acetylcysteine