The frequency of non tuberculosis mycobacteria among isoniazid resistant Mycobacterium isolates and the pattern of resistance to antituberculosis drugs

Abstract

Non tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) could be the causative agents of various clinical infections, especially in
immunocompromised individuals. However, frequency of this bacteria among Mycobacterium isolates is not ye
known. Morover, their pattern of resistance to antituberculosis drugs has not been reported. The aim of the study is
to determine the frequency of NTM among isoniazid resistant Mycobacterium isolates and the pattern of resistance
to antituberculosis drugs. The clinical isolates of isoniazid-resistant mycobacteria collected from several laboratories
in Java were cultured on Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) medium and followed by drug sensitivity testing. Identification of
NTM was based on standard microbiological test: colony morphology, duration of growth, acid fast staining, and
biochemical test (niacin test and nitro benzoic acid medium test). All isolates were resistant to rifampicin, 81.20%
were streptomycin resistant, and half of them were resistant to ethambutol. Pattern of resistance to the second
line antituberculosis drugs (ciprofloxacin, kanamicin, and ofloxacin) was variable with the range of 37,5%to 62,5%.
In conclusion, almost all NTM isolates were resistant to rifampicin and streptomycin, whereas more than half of
isolates were resistant to the second line drugs (ciprofloxacin, kanamicin, and ofloxacin).
Key words: NTM- isoniazid resistant- pattern of resistance – antituberculosi drugs