[New methods for mycobacteria identification].

Abstract

Currently, the genus Mycobacterium comprises more than 100 different species, many of which cause significant clinical infections with high morbidity and mortality. Mycobacteria identification by conventional methods (rate and optimal temperature of growth, pigment production, colony morphology, and biochemical characteristics) has been the standard in most clinical microbiology laboratories. However, this phenotypic approach has considerable limitations, since numerous species cannot be differentiated. Moreover, because of the slow growth of these microorganisms, the results may not be available until 2-4 weeks after the initial isolation. Therefore, one of the most important challenges for clinical mycobacteriology laboratories is rapid and accurate identification of this variety of microorganism. This review aims to briefly describe several alternative procedures for mycobacterial identification. Although analysis of cell wall lipids (mycolic acids) by high-performance liquid chromatography is an interesting and well-known option, the most promising innovation for mycobacteria identification is the use of rapid molecular methods such as nucleic acid probes and, especially, genomic amplification methods.