Characteristics of nontuberculous mycobacterium pulmonary infection

Background > Nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) is increasing in the world. NTM have clinical and image findings characteristics similar to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Therefore, the principal criteria to diagnose NTM require multiple isolation of same NTM species from biological samples, absence of MTB and presence of clinical manifestation. It was aimed to examine whether can be a supplementary diagnosis of NTM on the basic radiological image before bacteriological examination, by the comparing with the clinical features in each species and chest computed tomography (CT). We investigated the 97 patients with NTM met current the ATS/IDSA microbiological criteria between 2010 and 2012. > We evaluated the patient characteristics, chest CT findings and bacterial examination in all patients with NTM. Image findings were classified as nodules, consolidation, cavity and bronchiectasis, and we have compared with the features in each group. Results > Among diagnosed patients, 64.9% were female, the mean age was 66.4±12.8 years. Identification rate of MAC (M. avium- intracellulare complex) was as high as 88.7% and M.gordonae (5.2%), M. kansasii (3.1%) have been identified. It was not identified M.xenopi and M. ulcerans, which have been reported to be relatively common in Europe. Cavity lesions were often identified with M.kansasii.Bronchiectasis associated with MAC infection was observed very well in middle lobe, lingura and multiple lesions cases. Conclusions > It was considered that cavity lesions, middle lobe, lingura lesions and multiple lesions cases should be shifted the treatment as early as possible for protect tissue damage.