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. 2008 Sep;136(9):1188-91.
doi: 10.1017/S095026880700982X. Epub 2007 Nov 16.

Seasonality of clinical isolation of rapidly growing mycobacteria

X Y Han  1
Affiliations

Seasonality of clinical isolation of rapidly growing mycobacteria

X Y Han. Epidemiol Infect. 2008 Sep.

Abstract

Rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) are environmental organisms that have emerged as significant human pathogens. RGM infections show remarkable geographic variations. In this study, based on data from Houston, Texas, RGM were isolated from clinical cultures year-round, although peaks in the summer and autumn correlating with the seasonal variation of temperature and rainfall also were noted. These results may offer some explanation for the summer occurrence of RGM outbreaks at diverse locations.

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Figures

Fig
Fig
(a) Combined monthly isolation rate (per 1000 cultures) of rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) from patients during 7 years, (b) its correlation with the 30-year (1971–2000) average of rainfall, and (c) the mean temperature in Houston, Texas.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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