Gastric Aspirate Isolate Demonstrates Strain-Level Concordance With Sputum Isolate in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease
Abstract
The nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolated from gastric aspirate have demonstrated >85% strain concordance with those from the sputum, suggesting that they originate from the lungs rather than the environment. Gastric aspirate, although not yet internationally recognized, may be a useful supplementary specimen for diagnosing NTM pulmonary disease.