AUTHOR=Castro-Rodriguez Bernardo , Franco-Sotomayor Greta , Rodriguez-Pazmiño Ángel Sebastián , Cardenas-Franco Greta Esther , Orlando Solón Alberto , Hermoso de Mendoza Javier , Parra-Vera Henry , García-Bereguiain Miguel Ángel 

TITLE=Rapid and accurate identification and differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria using PCR kits available in a high-burden setting

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1358261

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1358261

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Infec@ons caused by mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are a major public health issue worldwide. Accurate diagnosis of mycobacteria species is a challenge for surveillance and treatment, par@cularly in high burden sejngs usually associated to low and middle income countries. In this study, we analyzed the clinical performance of two commercial PCR kits designed for the iden@fica@on and differen@a@on of MTBC and NTM, available in a high burden sejng like Ecuador. A total number of 100 mycobacteria isolates were included in the study, 50 of them previously characterized as M. tuberculosis and the other 50 characterized as NTM. Both kits displayed a great clinical performance for the iden@fica@on of M. tuberculosis, with 100% sensi@vity. On the other hand, for non-tuberculous mycobacteria, one of the kits displayed a good clinical performance with sensi@vity of 94% (CI 95%: 87-100%), while the second kit had a reduced sensi@vity of 75.6% (CI 95%: 62-89%). In conclusion, one of the kits is a fast and reliable tool for the iden@fica@on and discrimina@on of M. tuberculosis complex and non-tuberculous mycobacteria from clinical isolates.