Mycobacterium kansasii and M. scrofulaceum isolates from HIV-negative South African gold miners: incidence, clinical significance and radiology.
METHODS
A South African gold mining hospital.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical significance of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolates, and estimate NTM disease incidence in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative miners.


METHODS
Retrospective case series describing clinical and radiological features associated with NTM sputum isolates from HIV-negative miners between January 1993 and July 1996, and a comparison group with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.


RESULTS
Of miners with NTM isolates, 90% had been HIV-tested and 81% were HIV-negative. M. kansasii and M. scrofulaceum accounted for 202 (68%) and 41 (14%) isolates respectively. More than 80% of miners with M. kansasii or M. scrofulaceum were smear positive, and new cavitation was present in 78% and 74% respectively. Treatment failure occurred in 3% of M. kansasii and 12% of M. scrofulaceum patients. A normal pre-morbid radiograph was significantly less common in NTM than M. tuberculosis patients (odds ratio 0.26 and 0.10 for M. kansasii and M. scrofulaceum, respectively). NTM disease incidence, defined as NTM isolate plus new cavitation, was estimated at 66 and 12 per 100000 person-years for M. kansasii and M. scrofulaceum, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
M. kansasii and M. scrofulaceum disease are common in HIV-negative South African gold miners. Most isolates are associated with new cavitation against a background of silicosis or old TB scarring.
Corbett
E L
EL
Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
Hay
M
M
Churchyard
G J
GJ
Herselman
P
P
Clayton
T
T
Williams
B G
BG
Hayes
R
R
Mulder
D
D
De Cock
K M
KM
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006046:Gold; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019909:Mycobacterium kansasii / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015359:Mycobacterium scrofulaceum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012984:Software; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate
D006046:Gold