Abstract
Background Although nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are recognized pathogens in cystic fibrosis (CF), associations with clinical outcomes remain unclear. Methods Microbiological data was obtained from 1216 CF patients over 8 years (481 ± 55 patients/year). Relationships to clinical outcomes were examined in the subset ( n = 271, 203 ± 23 patients/year) with longitudinal data. Results Five hundred thirty-six of 4862 (11%) acid-fast bacilli (AFB) cultures grew NTM, with Mycobacterium abscessus ( n = 298, 55.6%) and Mycobacterium avium complex ( n = 190, 35.4%) most common. Associated bacterial cultures grew Stenotrophomonas or Aspergillus species more often when NTM were isolated (18.2% vs. 8.4% and 13.9% vs. 7.2%, respectively, p < 0.01). After controlling for confounders, patients with chronic M. abscessus infection had greater rates of lung function decline than those with no NTM infection (− 2.52 vs. − 1.64% predicted FEV 1/year, p < 0.05). Conclusions NTM infection is common in CF and associated with particular pathogens. Chronic M. abscessus infection is associated with increased lung function decline.
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