title: The epidemiology and geographic distribution of nontuberculous mycobacteria clinical isolates from sputum samples in the eastern region of China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been reported to be increasing worldwide and its geographic distribution differs by region. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology and distribution of NTM in the eastern part of China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sputum samples were collected from 30 surveillance sites for tuberculosis drug resistance test from May 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. Identification was performed using a biochemical test, multiplex PCR and GenoType Mycobacterium CM/AS assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1779 smear positive clinical isolates were obtained, of which 60 (3.37%) were NTM. Five species/complex of NTM were identified; M. intracellulare was the predominated species (68.33%), followed by M. abscessus-M. immunogenum (13.33%), Mycobacterium spec. (10.00%), M. Kansasii (6.67%) and M. peregrinum-M. alvei-M. septicum (1.67%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  M. intracellulare was the main species of NTM in the eastern part of China and clinical physicians should pay more attention to NTM induced pulmonary disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chronic Communicable Disease, Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chronic Communicable Disease, Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chronic Communicable Disease, Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Honghuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Chronic Communicable Disease, Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Guoli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chronic Communicable Disease, Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Qiao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chronic Communicable Disease, Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chronic Communicable Disease, Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Limei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia School of Public Health, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: Department of Chronic Communicable Disease, Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000453:epidemiology; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*