Evaluating the non-tuberculous mycobacteria effect in the tuberculosis infection diagnosis

• Published in: The European respiratory journal Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 338 - 342
• Main Authors: Latorre, I, De Souza-Galvao, M, Ruiz-Manzano, J, Lacoma, A, Prat, C, Altet, N, Ausina, V, Dominguez, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leeds Eur Respiratory Soc 01.02.2010; Maney
• Subjects: Adolescent; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiviral agents; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial Infections; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Latent Tuberculosis; Male; Medical sciences; Mycobacterium - metabolism; Mycobacterium avium - immunology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pneumology; Retrospective Studies; Tuberculin Test - methods; Tuberculosis - diagnosis; Tuberculosis - microbiology; Tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections; Human; Mycobacterium avium sensitin; Mycobacterium avium; Latent tuberculosis; interferon-γ release assays; ELISPOT; Assay; Infection; Mycobacteriales; Childhood; Mycobacteriaceae; latent tuberculosis infection; Bacteria; Antiviral; non-tuberculous mycobacteria; Actinomycetes; Interferon; Diagnosis; Child; Release; Pneumology
• ISSN: 0903-1936; 1399-3003
• DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00196608

The aim of the present study was to determine the role of previous non-tuberculous mycobacteria sensitisation in children as a factor of discordant results between tuberculin skin test (TST) and an in vitro T-cell based assay (T-SPOT.TB; Oxford Immunotec, Oxford, UK). We enrolled 21 non-bacille Calmette-Guérin-vaccinated paediatric patients for suspicious of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). These patients yielded a positive TST and a negative T-SPOT.TB. Cells were stimulated with Mycobacterium avium sensitin (having cross-reaction with Mycobacterium intracellulare and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum) and the presence of reactive T-cells was determined by an ex vivo ELISPOT. From the 21 patients, in 10 cases (47.6%), we obtained a positive ELISPOT result after stimulation with M. avium sensitin, in six (28.6%) cases, the result was negative and in the remaining five (23.8%) cases, the result was indeterminate. In conclusion, previous non-tuberculous mycobacteria sensitisation induces false-positive results in the TST for diagnosing LTBI and the use of gamma-interferon tests could avoid unnecessary chemoprophylaxis treatment among a child population.