Isolation and geographic distribution of Mycobacterium other than M. tuberculosis in British Columbia, 1972-81.

It has been suggested that the incidence of infection with mycobacteria other than typical tubercle (MOTT) bacilli is increasing. Laboratory and epidemiologic information relating to MOTT infection in British Columbia between 1972 and 1981 was analysed. Patient records for 1960-81 were also analysed. Of the 313 661 laboratory specimens 13 474 yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates and 3172, MOTT isolates. Over the 10 years the number of M. tuberculosis isolates declined, whereas the absolute and relative numbers of MOTT isolates increased. Members of the highly drug-resistant MAIS complex (M. avium-intracellulare, M. scrofulaceum and M. simiae) accounted for 73.3% of the 1778 potentially pathogenic MOTT isolates. MAIS isolation rates varied geographically. Analysis of patient records revealed 217 MOTT infections, of which 152 (70%) were due to MAIS organisms. Further studies are needed to determine the source of MAIS organisms in order that the infection and the disease may be more clearly understood.