Mycobacterium Kansasii in Kansas: Saprophyte or Infection?

During the five-year period from 1967 through 1972, Mycobacterium kansasii was isolated from 64 patients in the microbiology laboratory of a large referral hospital population. Thirty-one patients were found to have parenchymal pulmonary disease due to this organism, and in 33 patients the oiganism was found to be saprophytic and not related to active pulmonary disease. This report compares and contrasts these two groups of patients with regard to demographic data, presenting chest symptoms, skin testing, source of cultural material, and coexistent disease.