title: Isolation of multiple nontuberculous mycobacteria species in the same patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the observation of many patients with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections, we have often isolated different NTM species in the same patient. In this study we elucidated the patterns of multiple NTM species isolation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis included all patients from whom more than one species of mycobacteria were cultured from a respiratory specimen at Seoul National University Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital in South Korea, between January 2002 and December 2008. The demographic characteristics and clinical and radiographic findings were reviewed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple NTM species were isolated from 37 patients. Four patients with Mycobacterium gordonae, Mycobacterium terrae, or Mycobacterium lentiflavum were excluded due to the possibility of contamination. Transition to another NTM species was observed in 23 patients (69.7%), while alternating isolation of two or three NTM species was seen in nine patients. Two species were isolated simultaneously from different sputum samples collected from one patient on the same day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different NTM species were isolated from the same patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Lung Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Chang Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jinwoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seok-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chul-Gyu
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Young Whan
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Koo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jae-Joon
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011859:Radiography; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*