Nontuberculous mycobacteria in cystic fibrosis patients on the Island of Gran Canaria. A population study

Abstract Objective To determine the prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) colonization and disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Patients and methods All the CF patients followed-up from 2002 to 2012 with three acid-fast bacilli (AFB) cultures were included. The American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria for NTM lung disease were applied. Results Forty-four of the 53 patients being followed-up were included. The mean time of follow-up was 7.0 years. A total of 18 patients (40.9%) were NTM positive. The NTN mean annual prevalence was 14.1%. The risk of Mycobacterium abscessus complex was higher in the group of 10–14 years-old (p  Mycobacterium simiae and three with M. abscessus complex) with multiple positive cultures, positive AFB smears and clinical worsening were treated. Three patients with M. simiae and none of those with M. abscessus were cured. Conclusions Overall NTM prevalence of colonization and disease were high in our CF patients. Patients M. abscessus complex colonization. Multiple positive cultures or positive AFB smears were associated with disease.