title: Phenotypic characterisation and drug sensitivity testing of mycobacteria isolated from extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with most cases occurring in developing countries. The importance of extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) among all forms of tuberculosis has not yet been ascertained in developing countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify and perform phenotypic characterization of clinically important mycobacterium isolates from extra-pulmonary sites along with drug susceptibility testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 513 specimens from patients of (EPTB) with varied presentation were studied. Speciation and characterization of isolates were done on the basis of growth and biochemical characteristics. Drug susceptibility testing for mycobacterium isolates was done by proportion method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty four patients clinically suspected to have extra-pulmonary tuberculosis were culture positive for mycobacteria. On characterization 48 of the 54 isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis, 4 as M. bovis and 2 were M. avium/intracelulare. Drug susceptibility testing was done for the both M. tuberculosis as well as M. bovis. In single drug resistance, Streptomycin was highest followed by Isoniazid, Ethambutol and Refampicin. Multi drug resistance (MDR) was found in 6 isolates and it was observed only in group I cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPTB accounts for 10-15 percent of all cases of tuberculosis. Mycobacterium was present in 10.5 percent samples. 48 isolates out of 54 samples were found to be M. tuberculosis. The maximum numbers of M. tuberculosis were isolated from lymph node aspiration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. drrajendragrg@gmail.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gurung
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gurung
authors.forename: Y I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010641:Phenotype; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents