Isolation and Identification of <i>Mycobacterium chelonae</i> from Human Sputum among Suspected Pulmonary Tuberculosis Infections in Basra-Iraq

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the frequency of Mycobacterium Chelonae (M. chelonae) among tuberculosis suspected patients in Basra governorate and evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility. Methods: Isolation of M. chelonae from 150 samples from patients attended to the Advisory Clinic for Chest Diseases and Respiratory (ACCDR) in Basra city, smears were stained with the Ziehl Neelsen technique. Specimens were inoculated on Lowenstein Jensen medium, Identification to species level was achieved on the basis of the growth characteristics. Drug susceptibility were tested to antibiotics (Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide and Streptomycin) using proportional method. Results: from 150 sputum samples among tuberculosis suspected patients, sixteen samples (10.6%) were Nontuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM), from 16 NTM samples, 4 (2.6%) were M. chelonae. Drug susceptibility results showed that all isolates resistance to rifampicin, while one isolate showed intermediate resistance to ethambutol. All isolates of M. chelonae were sensitive to pyrazinamide, isoniazid and streptomycin. Conclusion: The M. chelonae present a high frequency, especially among tuberculosis suspected patients, which requires confirmation on a follow-up, along with the examination of patterns of sensitivity, is an absolute necessity in health centers in Iraq.