Dual skin testing with Mycobacterium avium sensitin and purified protein derivative to discriminate pulmonary disease due to M. avium complex from pulmonary disease due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis

J Infect Dis. 1998 Mar;177(3):730-6. doi: 10.1086/514225.

Abstract

Skin testing with Mycobacterium avium sensitin (MAS) RS 10/2 and purified protein derivative (PPD) was conducted on patients with pulmonary disease due to M. avium complex (MAC) or Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and no known immunodeficiency. Reactions > or = 5 mm to either MAS or PPD were present in 37 (84%) of 44 MAC patients and 28 (97%) of 29 MTB patients. MAC patients had a mean MAS reaction of 13.8 (+/-8.3) mm and a mean PPD reaction of 3.5 (+/-8.6) mm (P < .001). MTB patients had a mean MAS reaction of 17.9 (+/-9.4) mm and a mean PPD reaction of 22.9 (+/-11.4) mm (P < .001). MAS-dominant skin tests (MAS reaction > or = 5 mm larger than PPD reaction) were present in 32 (73%) of 44 MAC patients and 1 (3%) of 29 MTB patients. MAS-dominant skin tests had a specificity of 97% for discriminating MAC disease from MTB disease.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Antigens
  • Antigens, Bacterial*
  • Bacterial Proteins*
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / microbiology
  • Female
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Humans
  • Intradermal Tests / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium avium Complex / isolation & purification
  • Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / diagnosis*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • sensitin