title: Automated quantitative drug susceptibility testing of non-tuberculous mycobacteria using MGIT 960/EpiCenter TB eXiST.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the predictive value of in vitro drug susceptibility testing (DST) in slow-growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), knowledge on quantitative levels of drug susceptibility should be available. The aim of this study was to investigate the suitability of the MGIT 960/TB eXiST system for quantitative DST of NTM.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have assessed quantitative levels of drug susceptibility for clinical isolates of Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare and Mycobacterium kansasii by comparing radiometric Bactec 460TB-based DST with non-radiometric DST using MGIT 960/TB eXiST.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MGIT 960/TB eXiST gives results comparable to those of Bactec 460TB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MGIT 960/TB eXiST appears suitable for quantitative DST of NTM.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Universität Zürich, Nationales Zentrum für Mykobakterien, Zürich,  Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lucke
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hombach
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Friedel
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Erik C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Böttger
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001331:Automation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000382:microbiology; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019909:Mycobacterium kansasii / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents