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Cross-Contamination with Mycobacterium tuberculosis: An Epidemiological and Laboratory Investigation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Beth Nivin ,
Paula I. Fujiwara ,
John Hannifin  and
Barry N. Kreiswirth
Beth Nivin*
Affiliation:
Bureau of Tuberculosis Control, New York City Department of Health, New York, New York
Paula I. Fujiwara
Affiliation:
Bureau of Tuberculosis Control, New York City Department of Health, New York, New York Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
John Hannifin
Affiliation:
Bureau of Tuberculosis Control, New York City Department of Health, New York, New York
Barry N. Kreiswirth
Affiliation:
Public Health Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
*
225 Broadway, Box 72B, New York, NY 10007
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate possible cross-contamination of laboratory specimens, as suggested by an increased incidence of newly diagnosed patients with tuberculosis, many of whom had all negative smears for acid-fast bacilli and only one positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture referred to as “negative smears, one positive“ or NSOP.

METHODS:

Medical-record reviews were performed for all patients with NSOP results diagnosed at this facility within a 9-month period. Laboratory logbooks were reviewed for all isolates processed; DNA fingerprinting was performed on available isolates.

RESULTS:

Of 80 patients with NSOP results, 45 (56%) were found to have false-positive cultures resulting from laboratory contamination with H37Ra, an avirulent stock strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

CONCLUSION:

Laboratory cross-contamination resulted in the false diagnosis of tuberculosis in at least 45 individuals. Use of the Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube may have contributed to these contamination incidents by detecting small numbers of contaminating mycobacteria that may not have been detected with less sensitive media.

Information

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 19 , Issue 7 , July 1998 , pp. 500 - 503
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1998 

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