Abstracto

Isolation and Characterization of non-tuberculous mycobacteria from water in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria.

F. B. Tanimu¹*, A. Lawal³, A. Balarabe², H.G Anchau¹ and J.M Yelwa¹

Non tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) found frequently in environmental samples cause important opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. The aim of the study was to isolate and characterize non tuberculous mycobacteria in water samples from Ahmadu Bello University teaching hospital Zaria. A total of 32 water samples were collected from 13 different locations. The samples were processed by homogenization and decontamination, culture on Lowenstein Jensen medium and acid-fast staining was performed. Acid fast bacilli isolated from culture medium were identified using conventional biochemical tests which are of limited value in differeciation of NTM species. NTM were identified from 3(9.375%) of the 32 examined samples. Two of the three NTM positive samples were stored water samples collected from HIV Clinic and mosque. It was concluded that NTM contamination of water and environment in hospital was a potential risk factor in terms of nosocomial infections. Thus, surveillance cultures of water in the hospital are necessary to fix the source of NTM, to identify the types and strains and to establish control measures such as sterilization, disinfection, maintenance and modernization of water systems.