Abstract
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous in the environment and exist as an important cause of pulmonary infections in humans. Pulmonary involvement is the most common disease manifestation of NTM and the incidence of NTM is growing in North America. Susceptibility to NTM infection is incompletely understood; therefore preventative tools are not well defined. Treatment of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection is difficult and entails multiple antibiotics and an extended treatment course. Also, there is a considerable variation in treatment management that should be considered before initiating treatment. We highlight the new findings in the epidemiology diagnosis and treatment of mycobacterial infections. We debate new advances regarding NTM infection in cystic fibrosis patients and solid organ transplant recipients. Finally, we introduce a new epidemiologic model for NTM disease based on virulence-exposure-host factors.
Highlights
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are an important cause of morbidity in the United States
80% of pulmonary NTM (PNTM) infections in the United States are caused by members of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) [5,6,7]
A literature search was conducted using search keywords “nontuberculous mycobacteria,” “MAC,” “M. abscessus,” “epidemiology,” “treatment,” “North America,” “mortality,” “cystic fibrosis,” “transplantation,” “prevention,” and “diagnosis” from studies that have been published between the years 2009 and 2014
Summary
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are an important cause of morbidity in the United States. 80% of pulmonary NTM (PNTM) infections in the United States are caused by members of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) [5,6,7]. Current published studies report that the prevalence of pulmonary NTM disease is rising throughout the United States, among older adults [3, 9]. Patients with NTM disease require frequent and intense healthcare resources such as hospitalizations and frequent office visits as well as complicated therapy and associated treatment challenges. These challenges are confounded when multiple comorbidities are present, which are common in this population. This paper reviews important new developments in the prevalence, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of mainly pulmonary NTM disease in North America
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
