Evaluation Drug Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates of Mycobacterium Simiea Using REMA Plate Method in Mashhad

Non-tuberculous species of Mycobacterium are a large group of Mycobacterium and are widely distributed throughout the world. Increased isolation of non-tuberculous mycobacteria from patients with mycobacteria infections in Iranian laboratories was associated with erroneous and unnecessary drug treatment, so that in some cases isolated strains considered as drug resistant strains. According to studies conducted in Iran, Mycobacterium simiae was one of the most abundant non-tuberculous mycobacteria. The treatment regimen used includes Moxifloxacin, Clarithromycin along with third drugs Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole and Streptomycin antibiotics. Due to the limited studies performed on Mycobacterium simiae, in this study, the resistance of Mycobacterium simiae to common antibiotics used in the treatment regimen was evaluated by using the REMA Plate method.

In the present study, the drug susceptibility of 10 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium simiae to Clarithromycin, Moxifloxacin, Co-trimoxazole and Streptomycin antibiotics was evaluated using the REMA Plate method.

Out of 10 samples, all samples were sensitive to streptomycin and clarithromycin antibiotics (100%) and resistance to Moxifloxacin and Co-trimoxazole were %10 and %60, respectively.

The results indicated that the most effective drugs for the treatment were Clarithromycin, Streptomycin and Moxifloxacin, which can be used as a proper regimen in the treatment of Mycobacterium simiae infection.