title: Improved decontamination method for recovering mycobacteria from patients with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: In order to improve the recovery of mycobacteria from patients with cystic fibrosis, the present study evaluated a two-step decontamination procedure for clinical specimens. A total of 920 specimens obtained from 239 patients with cystic fibrosis were treated initially with N-acetyl-L-cysteine/sodium hydroxide. Of these specimens, 31 (3.3%) showed mycobacterial growth and 415 (45.1%) remained contaminated. Contaminated specimens were then subjected to a second round of decontamination, using a combination of N-acetyl-L-cysteine/sodium hydroxide and oxalic acid. Following this second decontamination, the number of specimens overgrown by microorganisms other than mycobacteria was reduced to 7.3%, and an additional 10 specimens positive for mycobacteria were found. The results suggest this two-step protocol could improve the recovery of mycobacteria from heavily contaminated specimens.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. bange@mikrobio.mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: F-C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Bange
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Böttger
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D004203:Disinfection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000382:microbiology; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide
chemical_list: D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D000111:Acetylcysteine