Prevalence of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria: A Single Center Study in Tehran, Iran

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are opportunist pathogens, which can cause pulmonary and non-pulmonary diseases.
This study aimed at investigating the frequency of NTM at a teaching hospital of Tehran, Iran.
Clinical samples from patients with signs and symptoms of TB were collected from March 2016 to July 2017. Specimens were investigated using conventional methods and the GeneXpert MTB/RIF system. Phenotypic, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction enzyme analysis (PRA) and sequencing methods were used to identify the mycobacterial species.
Of 230 culture positive samples, 12 (5.2%) were NTM, according to conventional and molecular approaches. Mycobacterium simiae (6, 50.0%), M. fortuitum (4, 33.3%), M. intracellulare (1, 8.3%) and M. kansasii (1, 8.3%) were the isolated NTM species.
The current study strongly highlights the need to design strategies for surveillance, monitoring, and management of NTM cases.