Rapid detection of laboratory cross-contamination with <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>using multispacer sequence typing

• Main Authors: Orehek Jean, Drancourt Michel, Djelouadji Zoheira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2009-03-01
• Series: BMC Microbiology
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/9/47

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ability to culture <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>from clinical specimens serves as the gold standard for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. However, a number of false-positive diagnoses may be due to cross-contamination of such specimens. We herein investigate such episode of cross-contamination by using a technique known as multispacer sequence typing (MST). This technique was applied to six <it>M. tuberculosis </it>isolates prepared within the same laboratory over a two-week period of time.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MST analysis indicated a unique and common sequence profile between a strain isolated from a patient with proven pulmonary tuberculosis and a strain isolated from a patient diagnosed with lung carcinoma. Using this approach, we were able to provide a clear demonstration of laboratory cross-contamination within just four working days. Further epidemiological investigations revealed that the two isolates were processed for culture on the same day.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The application of MST has been demonstrated to serve as a rapid and efficient method to investigate cases of possible cross-contamination with <it>M. tuberculosis</it>.</p>