Proportionate detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and nontuberculous mycobacteria using MGIT 960 in pulmonary TB sputum: Experience from a tertiary referral center, Surabaya (2021–2023)

¹ Study Program of Medical Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
² Study Program of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
³ Study Program of Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Indonesia remains a high TB-burden country where dense populations facilitate transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and the emergence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Differentiating MTBC from NTM is clinically essential because treatment and public-health actions differ. We performed a retrospective descriptive study using secondary medical-record data from Dr. Soetomo Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia (January 2021-December 2023). Sputum specimens from presumptive pulmonary TB cases were cultured using the MGIT 960 liquid culture system. Demographics, comorbidities, and culture identification (MTBC vs NTM) were summarized descriptively. The results is Among 81 patients, 62 were male (76.4%) and 45 were aged >46 years (55.6%). Diabetes mellitus was the most frequent comorbidity (27/81, 33.3%). MGIT 960 detected MTBC in 72/81 patients (88.9%) and NTM in 9/81 (11.1%). MTBC accounted for the vast majority of culture-positive pulmonary cases at this tertiary referral center, while NTM comprised about one-tenth of detections—highlighting the need for routine species-level discrimination to avoid mistreatment and to inform infection-control strategies. The conclusion in a three-year hospital-based cohort from Surabaya, MTBC predominated in MGIT 960-positive sputum cultures, with a smaller yet notable proportion of NTM. Incorporating systematic MTBC-NTM differentiation in diagnostic workflows may optimize clinical management in high-burden settings.