Recovery and survival of nontuberculous mycobacteria under various growth and decontamination conditions.

The survival of microorganisms of the Mycobacterium avium, M. intracellulare, and M. scrofulaceum (MAIS) complex was evaluated after various soil and water decontamination regimens. Survival was reduced by growing cells in natural waters compared with laboratory media and by inclusion of malachite green in media as an antifungal agent. Decontamination with benzalkonium chloride, while reducing survival significantly less than 1% NaOH, failed to eliminate many fungi. Recovery from soil was further reduced by transfer losses and by irreversible cell adsorption onto particulates.