Clofazimine for Treatment of Mycobacterium Abscessus Infections in Children

the 6 months following the quality assurance intervention were included.Sputum samples were processed at the Texas Department of State and Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory.Results.A total of 1,853 sputum samples were processed; 1,288 from 2014 and 565 following the intervention.NTM decreased from 56 (4.3%) to 7 (1.2%) after the quality assurance intervention was instituted for a NTM decrease of 75.0%.M. gordonae decreased by 78.6%.No patients had evidence of NTM disease. Conclusion.A breach in sputum collection protocols at TCID accounted for the increase in NTM isolation in 2014, half of which were M. gordonae.The reeducation of respiratory therapy staff and initiation of sterile saline rinse prior to sputum collection resulted in a significant reduction in the overall NTM rate.M. gordonae was isolated only three times following the intervention.At TCID, a location where tap water and bottled water contains NTM, drinking these prior to sputum collection possibly contributed to the cluster for NTM, especially M. gordonae.We recommend rinsing the mouth with sterile saline or water prior to sputum collection to decrease isolation of rarely pathogenic NTM.