Nontuberculous mycobacteria in China: incidence and antimicrobial resistance spectrum from a nationwide survey

Abstract Background Information on the prevalence and resistance spectrum of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in China is mainly based regional or local data. To estimate proportion NTM cases China, a national survey pulmonary disease was carried out acid-fast positive sputum samples collected 2013. Methods Sputum from enrolled presumptive 72 nationwide tuberculosis surveillance sites 31 provinces mainland were cultured using L-J medium at National reference laboratory (NTRL). MALDI-TOF MS identified species re-cultured strains, minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) determined to evaluate drug susceptibility isolates. Data analysis used statistical software SPSS version 22.0 for Windows package. Results Of 4917 mycobacterial isolates cultured, 6.4% [317/4917, 95% confidence interval ( CI ) 5.8%–7.2%] confirmed as NTM, among which 7.7% (287/3709, 6.9%–8.6%) southern region. In inland coastal 87.7% (95% 78.7%–93.2%) 50.0% 43.7%–56.3%) isolates, respectively, slow-growing (SGM), with remaining rapid growing (RGM). A total 29 detected, Mycobacterium abscessus had higher clarithromycin-inducible rates than M. massiliense (65.67% vs 2.22%). kansasii presented lower linezolid moxifloxacin avium-intracellulare complex (3.23% 66.67%, 0 47.22%) other SGM 38%, 26%). Conclusions More observed south P < 0.01). widely distributed, more RGM are present The antimicrobial different significantly accurate identification would be facilitated treatment.