Assessment of Drug Resistance in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Abstract

AIM: To assess of Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) drug resistance as base for further discovery and improvement of mycobacteriosis therapy. BACKGROUND: NTM are increasing around the world. These mycobacteria, which comprise a large and diverse range of species, have developed resistance to most conventional antibiotics, rendering their treatments unsatisfactory. METHODS: The retrospective analysis included 144 patients with pulmonary mycobacteriosis treated between September 2022 and April 2024. Detection and identification of NTM was performed by microscopy and culturing followed by mass spectrometry (MS, MALDI-TOF, Bruker); drug susceptibility testing was performed by the microdilution method using Sensititre (Trek Diagnostic Systems) RESULTS: The Mycobacterium avium complex was identified in 106 patients (73.6%), Mycobacterium abscessus in 20 patients (13.9%), and Mycobacterium kansasii in 18 patients (12.5%). Mycobacterium abscessus exhibited drug resistance to moxifloxacin and ciprofloxacin (75% each), linezolid (40%), clarithromycin (45%), and amikacin (25%). Mycobacterium kansasii demonstrated drug resistance to ciprofloxacin (55.6%), rifampicin (27.8%), amikacin (16.7%), linezolid (16.7%), clarithromycin (11.1%), moxifloxacin (11.1%), and rifabutin (11.1%). The Mycobacterium avium complex showed. drug resistance to linezolid (77.36%), moxifloxacin (60.38%), clarithromycin (42.45%), and amikacin (26.4%). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a basis for decision making of NTM infections treatment by establishing of drug resistance NTM species to enhance timely patient care.

Keywords

• Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)
• Drug Resistance
• Mycobacteriosis Therapy
• Pulmonary Infections
• Antibiotic Susceptibility