Reduction of contamination of Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tubes with a modified antimicrobial combination

Culture in the fluorimetric Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) treated with a combination of vancomycin, amphotericin B, and nalidixic acid (VAN) showed growth of most strains of 31 mycobacterial species with a less-than-l-day delay. The results were similar to those in the MGIT with polymyxin B, amphotericin B, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim, and azlocillin, but with respiratory specimens, the MGIT with VAN showed a lower contamination rate with no change in the detection rate or time.