title: Nontuberculous mycobacteria among patients who are suspected for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis-need for earlier identification of nontuberculosis mycobacteria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, we intended to find the prevalence of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) among patients who are referred as suspected multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases to the only referral center in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients referred to our center in 2002-2006 as MDR-TB with histories of treatment with standard and CAT II World Health Organization regimens were included in the study. Sputum smear and culture for acid-fast bacilli were performed for all patients 3 times. Sputum polymerase chain reaction was also performed for all patients. Mycobacterial identification was performed via polymerase chain reaction and routine identification tests for all culture-positive cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 105 patients in the study, 12 (11.43%) were identified to have NTM infection. The identified mycobacteria were classified in order of prevalence as Chelonae (8 cases), Simiae (2 cases), Aloei (1 case), and Farcinogen (1 case). Based on radiologic findings, most of the cases demonstrated bilateral nodularity (83.3%) and also multifocal bronchiectasis (75%). Notably, cavitary lesions were present in 41.7% of the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the findings of this study, it is essential that such cases be identified before commencing MDR-TB treatment.
authors.affiliation: Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Darabad, Tehran, Iran. tabarsi@nritld.ac.ir
authors.forename: Payam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tabarsi
authors.forename: Parvaneh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baghaei
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Farnia
authors.forename: Nahal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mansouri
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chitsaz
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sheikholeslam
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marjani
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rouhani
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirsaeidi
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alipanah
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amiri
authors.forename: Mohammad R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Masjedi
authors.forename: Davood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mansouri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000382:microbiology*