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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2013; 34(01): 087-094
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1333567
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Update on the Epidemiology of Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections

Brian A. Kendall
1   Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
2   ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, Utah
,
Kevin L. Winthrop
3   Division of Infectious Diseases, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
4   Division of Ophthalmology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
5   Division of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2013 (online)

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Abstract

For decades, the incidence of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been reported to be increasing, yet formal epidemiological evaluation of this notion has been lacking until recently. Defining the epidemiology of NTM has been more challenging than with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Unlike MTB, NTM are soil and water organisms, and infection is thought to be acquired from the environment rather than transmitted from person-to-person, with very rare exceptions. Due to their nearly ubiquitous presence in municipal water supplies, exposure to NTM is common. Further, NTM can colonize the respiratory tract without causing disease. NTM disease is not reportable to public health authorities; therefore, epidemiological and surveillance data are not readily available. Nonetheless, the prevalence of pulmonary NTM disease has increased dramatically in the United States and globally over the past 3 decades. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) accounts for the majority of NTM infections worldwide, but there is significant regional variability of various species. Additionally, novel species have been implicated in several countries in NTM pulmonary disease.

Keywords

nontuberculous mycobacteria - epidemiology - Mycobacterium avium - Mycobacterium tuberculosis
 

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