Prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria among tuberculosis suspects in Bagamoyo district- Tanzania.

The persistence of pulmonary infections has drawn attention to research on the prevalence of Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) among Tuberculosis (TB) suspects in Bagamoyo district-Tanzania. A total of 396 participants were analysed by two parallel culture methods of solid media Lowensen Jensen (LJ) and Mycobacteria Growth indicator Tube (MIGT). Identification of NTM species was done by molecular methods, using the Common Mycobacteria (CM) and Additional Species (AS) kits of Line Probe Assay from HAIN life sciences that allows identification of 37 NTM species. The prevalence of atypical mycobacteria species was found to be 25% (100/396) whereby the prevalence in female was (51%) and in males (48.7%) with Cl 0.82 (0.52- 1.30). In children aged 5-17 years, the prevalence was 1.5 times higher than <5 years with Cl 1.73(0.47-6.34). In adults 18-40 years the Cl was 0.85 (0.26-2.78) and in <40 years the Cl was 0.97(0.30). The risk of NTM infection for HIV positive individuals was 1.3 times higher (p-value = 0.228) than for HIV negative while controlling for other factors (sex and age). However, the prevalence in categorized age groups, gender and HIV status was not statistically significant considering the 95% Cl included 1 and that of P.value of 0.05 and less as significant. Fourteen (14) different atypical mycobacteria species were identified by CM and AS kits. M. Fortuitum with 19.8% (20) was the dominant identified species from clinical specimen. Three (3) TB suspects were identified with the same species in both samples suggestive- of being clinically significance according to American Thoracic Society (ATS). With the determined prevalence, NTM infections should be considered in diagnosis especially when managing chronic pulmonary infections and Chronic TB cases to limit morbidity in areas with high burden of TB and provide appropriate treatment.