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A comparison between disk diffusion and microdilution for susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium fortuitum complex
J Esteban1, I Gadea, M V Torres
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Fundación Jiménez Diaz, Madrid, Spain. jesteban@fjd.es
Journal of Chemotherapy (Florence, Italy)
|February 14, 2003
Summary
Disk diffusion testing for Mycobacterium fortuitum complex shows good correlation for most antibiotics, but species-specific analysis reveals limitations. Confirmation with reference methods is essential for accurate antimicrobial susceptibility results.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
- Mycobacterial Infections
Background:
- The Mycobacterium fortuitum complex causes opportunistic infections.
- Accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is crucial for guiding treatment.
- Disk diffusion is a common, cost-effective AST method.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of disk diffusion for AST of Mycobacterium fortuitum complex.
- To compare disk diffusion results with broth microdilution, a reference method.
- To assess the accuracy of disk diffusion across different species within the complex.
Main Methods:
- Ninety-five strains of Mycobacterium fortuitum complex were tested.
- Disk diffusion on Mueller-Hinton agar was performed.
- Results were compared against broth microdilution.
Main Results:
- Overall good correlation was observed for most antimicrobials.
- Clarithromycin and erythromycin showed poor correlation globally.
- Species-specific analysis revealed poor correlation for several antimicrobials.
- Resistant/susceptible result analysis was good except for azithromycin and erythromycin.
Conclusions:
- Disk diffusion can serve as a screening tool for some antibiotics against Mycobacterium fortuitum complex.
- Results require confirmation using a reference method for definitive interpretation.
- Species-specific performance variations necessitate careful consideration.