The IS6110 repetitive DNA element of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is not detected in exhaled breath condensate of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.
BACKGROUND
A large tertiary referral hospital in inner-city Chicago.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the IS6110 repetitive DNA element of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is detected in exhaled breath condensate of patients with newly diagnosed active pulmonary tuberculosis.


METHODS
Ten hospitalized patients with positive Ziehl-Neelson-stained sputum smears were studied. Concurrent sputum cultures for mycobacteria were performed as well. Exhaled breath condensate was collected from each patient within 6 days of initiating antituberculosis chemotherapy (median 1.5 days). These samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers designed to amplify the IS6110 DNA fragment of M. tuberculosis. Exogenous M. tuberculosis DNA was added to exhaled breath condensate samples to detect PCR inhibitors. Concurrent cultures of exhaled breath condensate for mycobacteria were performed.


RESULTS
M. tuberculosis was identified in 9 of 10 sputum cultures. One isolate was identified as Mycobacterium kansasii. The IS6110 repetitive DNA element of M. tuberculosis was not detected in any of the 10 exhaled breath condensate samples. Exogenous M. tuberculosis DNA added to these samples elicited the characteristic band pattern of M. tuberculosis on agarose gel electrophoresis. No PCR inhibitors were detected. Cultures of exhaled breath condensate showed no growth of mycobacteria.


CONCLUSIONS
The IS6110 repetitive DNA element of M. tuberculosis is not detected in exhaled breath condensate of patients with newly diagnosed active pulmonary tuberculosis.
Jain
Rupali
R
Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-4325, USA.
Schriever
Christopher A
CA
Danziger
Larry H
LH
Cho
Sang Hyun
SH
Rubinstein
Israel
I
D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial