title: Mycobacterial cross-contamination of bronchoscopy specimens.
abstract: Bronchoscopy specimens from 3 patients investigated during 1 wk at a large teaching hospital were culture positive for the same serovar of Mycobacterium intracellulare. Review of laboratory records and patient data suggested that only the first patient examined was a genuine excretor of mycobacteria; the isolates from the other 2 patients were false positives caused by inadequate disinfection of part of the collection apparatus between use. The investigations confirm the suitability of glutaraldehyde as a rapid, highly effective antimycobacterial disinfectant and illustrate the value of serotyping when dealing with mycobacterial isolates of questionable significance.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D004203:Disinfection; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005976:Glutaral; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D005976:Glutaral