The growth of atypical mycobacteria was observed in experimental studies in vitro of porcine aortic valve (aortic wall coupon) after tanning in glutaraldehyde solution at 0.625%. One hundred aortic wall coupons from different valves were incubated in 4 different culture media in a total of 400 cultures, employing the Thioglycollate, Brain-Heart-Infusion, liquid Sabouraud-Dextrose and Micosel, which did not become positive for 72 hours. The growth of atypical mycobacteria was recognized in 23% of the samples from the Thioglycollate and Sabouraud media after the 5th day utilizing appropriate subculturing techniques and special culture media. The atypical mycobacteria were identifyed as the Mycobacterium chelonei, which was demonstrated to be resistant to glutaraldehyde and it was completely eliminated by the formaldehyde in association with the surfactant.
heart valve prosthesis; endocarditis; mycobacteria