title: [Identification of mycobacteria to the species level by molecular methods in the Public Health Laboratory of Bogotá, Colombia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Global epidemiology of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is unknown due to the fact that notification is not required in many countries, however the number of infection reports and outbreaks caused by NTM suggest a significant increase in the last years. Traditionally, mycobacteria identification is made through biochemical profiles which allow to differentiate M. tuberculosis from NTM, and in some cases the mycobacteria species. Nevertheless, these methods are technically cumbersome and time consuming. On the other hand, the introduction of methods based on molecular biology has improved the laboratory diagnosis of NTM.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish the NTM frequency in positive cultures for acid-fast bacilli (AAFB) which were sent to Laboratorio de Salud Pública de Bogotá over a 12 month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 100 positive cultures for acid-fast bacilli from public and private hospitals from Bogotá were identified by both biochemical methods and the molecular methods PRA (PCR-restriction enzyme analysis) and multiplex-PCR. Furthermore, low prevalence mycobacteria species and non-interpretable results were confirmed by 16SrDNA sequentiation analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Identification using the PRA method showed NMT occurrence in 11% of cultures. In addition, this molecular methodology allowed to detect the occurrence of more than one mycobacteria in 4% of the cultures. Interestingly, a new M. kubicae pattern of PCR-restriction analysis is reported in our study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using a mycobacteria identification algorithm, which includes the molecular method PRA, improves the diagnostic power of conventional methods and could help to advance both NTM epidemiology knowledge and mycobacteriosis control.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Salud Pública, Secretaria Distrital de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia. Electronic address: jhernandezto@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Johana Esther
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hernández-Toloza
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Salud Pública, Secretaria Distrital de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: María de Pilar
authors.initials: Mde P
authors.lastname: Rincón-Serrano
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Salud Pública, Secretaria Distrital de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Yamile Adriana
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Celis-Bustos
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Salud Pública, Secretaria Distrital de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Claudia Inés
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Aguillón
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D003105:Colombia; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000145:classification*; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000145:classification*; D011634:Public Health; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Micobacteria no tuberculosa; Multiplex polymerase chain reaction; Non-tuberculous mycobacteria; Reaccion en cadena de la polimerasa múltiple; Restriction enzyme analysis; análisis con enzimas de restricción