Nosocomial Mycobacterium fortuitum colonization from a contaminated ice machine.

Between October 15 and November 18, 1985, 5 patients on a medical ward of the Albany VA Medical Center (Ward 8A) became colonized with Mycobacterium fortuitum. Because other patients in Ward 8A were at risk of developing disease with M. fortuitum, microbiologic surveillance to identify colonization in sputum was begun.

Epidemiology of infection by nontuberculous mycobacteria. V. Numbers in eastern United States soils and correlation with soil characteristics.

Organisms of the Mycobacterium avium, M. intracellulare, and M. scrofulaceum (MAIS) group were recovered in significant numbers from 63 soil samples collected from the floodplains of 4 major rivers in the eastern United States: Hudson (NY), James (VA), Savannah (GA, SC), and Tombigbee (AL, MS).

Phage-typing and drug-resistance patterns as tools in mycobacterial epidemiology.

Phage-typing by itself was not sufficient to delineate the boundaries of a mini-epidemic of tuberculosis in upstate New York. Drug-resistance patterns were needed as well. In a small upstate community, 79% of 14 isolates tested were resistant to one or more of the antituberculosis drugs.

In vitro susceptibility of human and environmental isolates of Mycobacterium avium, M. intracellulare, and M. scrofulaceum to heavy-metal salts and oxyanions.

Because of the widespread distribution of Mycobacterium intracellulare and M. scrofulaceum in southeastern U.S.