Direct Identification of Mycobacterium haemophilum in Skin Lesions of Immunocompromised Patients by PCR-Restriction Endonuclease Analysis

Abstract
PCR-restriction endonuclease analysis (PRA) was used for direct identification of Mycobacterium haemophilum in clinical specimens from immunocompromised patients. PRA correctly identified M. haemophilum in four smear-positive specimens. Direct identification by PRA takes 2 to 3 working days compared to the 3 to 5 weeks required for culture isolation and identification by conventional methods.