title: Mycobacterial testing in hospital laboratories: results from a questionnaire survey in Italy.
abstract: Between 1999 and 2001, 355 hospital laboratories in Italy were asked to complete a questionnaire addressing mycobacterial test methods, 1-year workloads and laboratory safety features. Analysis of the data showed that rapid methods for mycobacterial testing were being used by most larger laboratories; however, sub-optimal methods were still in use in small and medium-size laboratories. In a country such as Italy, which has a low prevalence of tuberculosis cases, implementation of rapid technologies, combined with regionalisation of mycobacterial diagnostic services, seems to be the most reasonable and cost-effective strategy.
authors.affiliation: Mycobacteria Committee, Italian Association of Clinical Microbiology (AMCLI), Milan, Italy. piersim@tin.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piersimoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mandler
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tortoli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tronci
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scarparo
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016526:Workload
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media