[Epidemiologic and microbiologic aspects of mycobacteriosis in Slovakia]

Mycobacterioses are diseases caused by mycobacteria other than those that induce the classical tuberculosis: M. tbc (previously to as "human" type) and M. bovis (previously to as "bovine" type of mycobacteria). The purpose of this paper is to confront the limited knowledge about the epidemiology of this disease abroad with the information obtained in Slovakia. The methodology of this paper is based upon the surveillance of tuberculosis as applied on mycobacterioses. Pulmonary mycobacteriosis caused by M. kansasii was diagnosed in 51 subjects in Slovakia within the period 1979-1993: 47 men and 4 women. The average age of men was 47 and of women 55 years. The highest incidence of the disease was observed in Central Slovakia (25 subjects), followed by Eastern Slovakia (18 subjects) and Western Slovakia (8 subjects). Geographic distribution coincides with the profession of Slovak miners who work either in the Slovak mining area or in Ostrava-Karviná mining complex. Miners accounted for 20 out of 51 patients. Apart from preventive measures applied in tuberculosis caused by M. tbc, it is vitally important to pay great attention to the prevention and treatment of pneumoconioses and chronic obstructive bronchitis. Both miners and heavy smokers should avoid working in an environment where M. kansasii is present. Examinations within the focus of the disease should be targeted at the working environment (Ref. 13.).