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  • Title: Use of potassium tellurite for rapid-drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium avium complex.
    Author: Afghani B, Fujiyama D.
    Journal: J Investig Med; 2001 May; 49(3):292-6. PubMed ID: 11352188.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is a major cause of infection in immunocompromised patients. MAC possesses an enzyme that reduces potassium tellurite in less than 3 days and results in formation of a black precipitate. The objective of this study was to determine whether reduction of potassium tellurite by mycobacteria can be used as a means of testing the susceptibility of MAC to clarithromycin. METHODS: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for 104 clinical isolates of MAC were determined by the tellurite method and compared with those tested by a recommended microdilution method. Microdilution breakpoints were used for interpretation of susceptibility. MIC of less than 8 microg/mL was considered as susceptible, and MIC of greater than or equal to 8 microg/mL was resistant. RESULTS: There was agreement within a 2-fold dilution between MICs for 89% of isolates. Of the 53 isolates that had discrepant MICs by the two methods, 70% had higher MICs by the tellurite method. When the MICs were classified into interpretive categories, there was 100% agreement by the two methods. The MIC tested by the tellurite method was available within 5 days. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that use of potassium tellurite is a more rapid, reliable, and inexpensive method of testing the susceptibility of MAC to clarithromycin.
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