A laboratory-based study to identify and speciate nontuberculous mycobacteria isolated from specimens submitted to a central tuberculosis laboratory from throughout Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Background. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are important environmental pathogens capable of causing a spectrum of infection. The different species exhibit varied geographical prevalence worldwide. Identification of the infecting organism may be helpful in determining the clinical significance of the isolate.