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Failure to recognize rapidly growing mycobacteria in a proficiency testing sample without specific request – A wider diagnostic problem?

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Abstract

Fifty participants in the Swiss External Quality Control Program in Bacteriology/Mycology received a diagnostic sample containing Mycobacterium fortuitum. Only 31 used some sort of acid-fast stains, and 13 reported the diagnosis of M. fortuitum or rapidly growing mycobacteria. We conclude that the presence of 'rapid growers' in routine bacteriology samples is underestimated, and that acid-fast stains should be performed on suspicious Gram-positive rods.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Alexander von Graevenitz & Verena Pünter-Streit

Authors
  1. Alexander von Graevenitz
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  2. Verena Pünter-Streit
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von Graevenitz, A., Pünter-Streit, V. Failure to recognize rapidly growing mycobacteria in a proficiency testing sample without specific request – A wider diagnostic problem?. Eur J Epidemiol 14, 519–520 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007463630978

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007463630978

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