Identification and Clinical Correlation of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria isolates from Pulmonary tuberculosis suspects with HIV Co-infection at UTH,Lusaka,Zambia
Loading...
Date
2016
Authors
Kangongwe, Hendrix Mundia
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zambia
Abstract
Non-tuberculosis Mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly recognized as human pathogens
especially with the emergence of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Similarity
of clinical symptoms with TB, coupled with limited diagnostic capacities in tuberculosis (TB)-
endemic areas has led to misdiagnosis of NTM pulmonary disease especially in Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected patients. The study aimed at assessing the spectrum
of NTM species causing pulmonary symptoms in HIV-infected patients, with a secondary
objective of assessing association of demographics, anaemia, body mass index (BMI), and
CD4 count with NTM pulmonary disease. The study was a laboratory based cross-sectional
study involving 56 NTM archival isolates from cultures of suspected pulmonary TB patients
with HIV co-infection at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Lusaka, Zambia. Geno
Type Mycobacterium CM/AS kits were used for speciation of NTM. Descriptive statistics was
used to summarize data, while inferential statistics was used to evaluate associations between
symptomatic NTM (dependent variable) and predictor variables. M. immunogenum was the
most common NTM species (5.0%), followed by M. abscessus (3.75%), M. smegmatis
(3.75%) M. gordonae (2.5%), M. fortuitum (1.25%), M. intracellulare, M. mageritense, M.
celatum, and M. chelonae, all at 1.25% frequency of isolation. Organisms besides NTM
species included members of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC) (23.75%), Gram positive
bacteria with a high G+C content (43.75%) though not identified to species level. Five isolates
were negative, while four could not be identified. Isolation of some pathogenic and potentially
pathogenic NTM species with accompanying characteristics of clinical disease in the current
study, could be suggestive of their clinical significance in HIV-infected patients in our study.
The study also showed some correlations between pulmonary NTM disease and the other
predictor variables (BMI, anaemia, and CD4count), though these associations were not
statistically significant. The small sample size used in the study however, may not permit
generalization of study findings but could form a basis for further research.
Description
Master of Science in Medical Microbiology
Keywords
Tuberculosis , HIV infections--Zambia , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary--complications--Zambia