title: Comparison of real-time polymerase chain reaction and conventional biochemical methods for identification of Mycobacterium chelonae-Mycobacterium abscessus group to the species level.
abstract: The Mycobacterium chelonae-Mycobacterium abscessus group (MCAG) is the most common cause of infections because of rapidly growing mycobacteria. Rapid identification of MCAG to the species level is essential for choosing empiric antibiotic treatment and for public health measures. In this study, we compared the performance of a single-tube multiplex, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to 3 biochemical tests for species-level identification of 46 MCAG isolates. We show that real-time PCR provides the most accurate results for rapid species-level identification of MCAG.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guarin
authors.forename: Indre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Budvytiene
authors.forename: Laleh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ghafghaichi
authors.forename: Niaz
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Banaei
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity