Epidemiology of Human Pulmonary Infection with Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Abstract

Population-based data have documented a continued increase in NTM prevalence since 2000. Annual prevalence in North American and Australia ranges from 3.2–9.8 per 100,000, and is generally higher than in Europe. Studies of NTM PD from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, also suggest increasing prevalence. In Africa and the Middle East, prevalence of NTM ranges from 4% –15% among suspected TB cases and 18%–20% among suspected multi-drug resistant TB (MDR TB) cases. M. avium complex (MAC) is predominant in North America and East Asia, whereas M. kansasii, M. xenopi, and M. malmoense are more common in Europe. Host factors important to the current epidemiology of NTM PD include thoracic skeletal abnormalities, rheumatoid arthritis, and use of immunomodulatory drugs. Clustering of disease within families suggests a heritable genetic predisposition to disease susceptibility. Warm, humid environments with high atmospheric vapor pressure contribute to population risk.

Microbiological criteria in non-tuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease: a tool for diagnosis and epidemiology

“…35 Generally, the prevalence of NTM-PD in Europe is substantially lower than in North America, Australia and Japan. 5 The exact reasons for such apparent differences remain to be elucidated in future studies.…”

“…1 Interest in NTM continuously grows due to reported increase in isolation frequency [1][2][3][4][5] , particularly in countries where the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is declining. 1,6 Diagnosis of NTM pulmonary diseases (NTM-PD) is difficult.…”

Levels of Antibody against Glycopeptidolipid Core as a Marker for Monitoring Treatment Response in Mycobacterium avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: a Prospective Cohort Study

“…T he prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease is increasing in Japan and worldwide (1,2), and the importance of proper diagnosis and management of the disease has been recently recognized. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is the most common and important causative agent of pulmonary disease among nontuberculous mycobacteria (3).…”

Peak Plasma Concentration of Azithromycin and Treatment Responses in Mycobacterium avium Complex Lung Disease

“…ulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is increasing worldwide (1,2), and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is the most common etiology of lung disease (LD) due to NTM (1,2). The introduction of newer macrolides, such as clarithromycin (CLR) and azithromycin (AZM), was a major therapeutic advancement in the treatment of LD due to MAC (MAC-LD) (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8).…”