Table 3.
Microbiological features
| Case | Specimens | Time for cultural identification | Other positive tests | Antimicrobial susceptibility test |
| 11 | Sputum | 8 wk | Macrolid (S)2 | |
| Broncholavage | 10 wk | |||
| Bioprosthesis | np | PCR | ||
| Pericardial abscess | 8 wk | |||
| Blood | np | |||
| 2 | Blood | 4 wk | Macrolid (S)2 | |
| 3 | Blood | 4 wk | Macrolid (S)2 | |
| 4 | Blood (2) | 3 wk | Clarithromycin (S); Linezolid (R); Moxifloxacin (S); Aminoglycoside (S)2; Macrolid (S)2 | |
| Bioprosthesis | 6 wk | Microscopy after enrichment | ||
| Vertebral bone | 12 wk | |||
| 5 | Vertebral bone (3) | 3, 5, and 10 wk | Auramine rhodamine stain | Clarithromycin (S); Linezolid (I); Moxifloxacin (R) |
| Blood (2) | Negative | |||
| 6 | Blood (3) | 3, 4, and 5 wk | Clarithromycin (S); Linezolid (I); Moxifloxacin (R) | |
| Bone Marrow | 2 wk | Microscopy after enrichment | ||
| Bioprosthesis (5) | 3 wk | Microscopy after enrichment | ||
| 7 | Blood | 6 wk | Clarithromycin (S); Linezolid (I); Moxifloxacin (S) | |
| 8 | Blood (2) | 4 wk | Clarithromycin (S); Linezolid (S); Moxifloxacin (S) | |
| 9 | Blood | 4 wk | ip |
1
Originally identified as M. intracellulare;
2
Molecular Characterization. ip: In process; np: Not performed; S: Susceptible; I: Intermediate; R: Resistant.