Drug susceptibility profile of Mycobacterium kansasii clinical isolates from Brazil.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Mycobacterium kansasii (M. kansasii) pulmonary infection can cause disease with clinical and radiological features similar to tuberculosis. Failure to treat M. kansasii infection is usually associated with resistance; to increase the chance of successful treatment it is important to identify the species and know the susceptibility profile. This study aimed to evaluate the antimycobacterial susceptibility profiles of M. kansasii isolates from Brazil. METHODS: Sixty-nine M. kansasii isolates from 69 patients were identified by partial sequencing of the hsp65 gene, and their susceptibility profiles were analysed by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. RESULTS: From 69 isolates, 68 showed susceptibility to clarithromycin, amikacin, and moxifloxacin. Most strains showed high rates of resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin. Resistance to rifampicin and ethambutol was found in 12% and 25% of isolates, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Worrying results were found regarding susceptibility to some drugs used as first-line agents in the treatment of diseases caused by M. kansasii.