title: National atypical mycobacteria survey, 2000.
abstract: Infections with atypical mycobacteria in Australia during 2000 occurred at a rate of 1.8 cases per 100,000 population. The main sites of disease were the respiratory tract, soft tissue, and the lymphatics. The Mycobacterium avium complex was the most common group of mycobacteria isolated from respiratory, lymphatic sites, and blood. The rapidly growing mycobacteria, predominantly the M. fortuitum-M. abscessus-M. chelonae group were the most common soft tissue infections. Atypical mycobacteria were isolated from significant numbers of sputum 'smear positive' patients, requiring further tests to exclude M. tuberculosis. Geographical differences were observed for some Mycobacterium species, notably the isolation of M. haemophilum from Western Australia, and M. ulcerans from Victoria and Queensland. Newer molecular techniques, while improving precision and accuracy of identification, raise additional questions about the ecology of the atypical mycobacteria and their role in disease.
authors.affiliation: Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory, Western Australian Centre for Pathology and Medical Research (PathCentre), Locked Bag 2009, Nedlands WA 6909. frank.haverkort@health.wa.gov.au
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haverkort
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology