title: Descriptive study of the frequency of nontuberculous mycobacteria in the Baixada Santista region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aims at describing the frequency of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species identified through laboratory testing of samples collected from non-sterile sites (sputum), as well as its frequency in HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected individuals in the Baixada Santista region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in the period from 2000 to 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of sputum smear microscopy results and culture was conducted based on the records on file at the Instituto Adolfo Lutz-Santos, the regional tuberculosis laboratory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed 194 NTM strains isolated from 125 individuals, of whom 73 (58.4%) were HIV-negative and 52 (41.6%) were HIV-positive. Thirteen different species were identified: Mycobacterium kansasii; M. avium complex; M. fortuitum; M. peregrinum; M. gordonae; M. terrae; M. nonchromogenicum; M. intracellulare; M. flavescens; M. bohemicum; M. chelonae; M. shimoidei; and M. lentiflavum. In 19.2% of the cases, the bacteriological diagnosis was confirmed by isolation of the same species in at least two consecutive samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show the importance of including systematic identification of NTM in the laboratory routine, and that its integration into the clinical routine could improve the characterization of the disease, thereby informing the planning of effective control measures in specific populations, such as individuals presenting tuberculosis/HIV co-infection.
authors.affiliation: Adolfo Lutz Institute, Santos Regional Laboratory, Santos, Brazil. lilizy@globo.com
authors.forename: Liliana Aparecida
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Zamarioli
authors.forename: Andréa Gobetti Vieira
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Clemira Martins
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Chiou
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Suely Yoko Mizuka
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ueki
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chimara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019909:Mycobacterium kansasii / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult