Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Respiratory Tract Infections, Eastern Asia

• Main Authors: Sami Simons, Jakko van Ingen, Po-Ren Hsueh, Nguyen Van Hung, P.N. Richard Dekhuijzen, Martin J. Boeree, Dick van Soolingen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2011-03-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Atypical mycobacteria; Mycobacterium; infections; Asia; respiratory tract infections; review
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/3/10-0604_article

To characterize the distribution of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species isolated from pulmonary samples from persons in Asia and their association with pulmonary infections, we reviewed the literature. Mycobacterium avium complex bacteria were most frequently isolated (13%–81%) and were the most common cause of pulmonary NTM disease (43%–81%). Also pathogenic were rapidly growing mycobacteria (M. chelonae, M. fortuitum, M. abscessus). Among all NTM isolated from pulmonary samples, 31% (582/1,744) were considered clinically relevant according to American Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria. Most patients were male (79%) and had a history of tuberculosis (37%). In Asia, high prevalence of rapidly growing mycobacteria and a history of tuberculosis are distinct characteristics of pulmonary NTM disease. This geographic variation is not well reflected in the American Thoracic Society criteria for NTM infections and could be incorporated in future guidelines.