Abstract
Background: Nontuberculous micobacteria (NTM) represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, since they can grow on body surfaces without causing disease.
Methods: All cases with positive culture from respiratory samples in the last 10 years were recruited. Identification of NTM was carried out by AccuProbe and GenoType Mycobacterium CM/AS system. ATS criteria were considered to analyze the radiological, clinical and microbiological findings.
Results: NTM were detected in 30 patients (38% out of 80 patients tested positive to NTM in the microbiology department).The average age was 59 years and women represented 52%. Eleven strains of NTM have been identified. The 77% of patients presented underlying pulmonary disease and previous history of tuberculosis was found in 37% of cases. The most frequent CT scan pattern was bronchiectasis followed by multiple nodules. Sputum culture was used for microbiological diagnosis in 77% of cases and the smear resulted positive in 20% of subjects. In this study, 33% of patients received treatment, of which 80% tested positive for Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI).
n | COPD | Bronchiectasis | Previous tuberculosis | FEV1(%) | BMI | Treated | |
MAI | 15 | 3(20%) | 3(20%) | 5(33%) | 62±30 | 15±10 | 8(53%) |
Celatium | 1 | - | - | - | 108 | 25 | - |
Chelonae | 3 | - | 1(33%) | - | 47±42 | 21±19 | 1 |
Fortuitum | 2 | 1(50%) | 1(50%) | 2(100%) | 54±7 | 27±4 | - |
Gordonae | 2 | - | - | 1(50%) | 88±28 | 40±7 | - |
Kansaii | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Lentiflavum | 2 | - | 1(50%) | 1(50%) | 96±17 | 24±0 | - |
Scrofolaceum | 1 | - | - | 1(100%) | 47 | 29 | - |
Simiae | 1 | 1(100%) | - | - | 35 | 21 | - |
Smegmatis | 1 | - | - | - | - | 21 | - |
Szulgai | 1 | - | - | 1(100%) | 70 | 22 | 1 |
Total | 30 | 5(17%) | 5(17%) | 11(37%) | 60±34 | 20±12 | 10(33%) |
Conclusions: The NTM more prevalent was MAI. Only a third of patients with NTM met criteria for treatment.
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