The Value of Sputum Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Cystic Fibrosis Patients withNegative Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Sputum Culture

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening autosomal recessive disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in CF patients with Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) negative sputum culture.  

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The population included all children with CF, aged between 5 - 18 years old, with an NTM negative sputum culture. The patient's sputum samples were sent for smear and culture of NTM, RFLP PCR, and PCR sequence.  

In total, 57 CF patients with negative NTM sputum culture were enrolled. Nine patients (15.78%) had positive sputum PCR for NTM. Among these strains, Mycobacterium simiae was the most common one with 5 cases (8.77% of total positive cases).  

PCR can be used as an alternative diagnostic method for NTM in CF patients with negative NTM sputum culture, always under clinical suspicion of the disease.