Mycobacterial testing in hospital laboratories: results from a questionnaire survey in Italy.
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.
Piersimoni
C
C
Mycobacteria Committee, Italian Association of Clinical Microbiology (AMCLI), Milan, Italy. piersim@tin.it
Mandler
F
F
Marchetti
D
D
Molinari
G L
GL
Riva
R
R
Tortoli
E
E
Tronci
M
M
Scarparo
C
C
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
D003470:Culture Media