Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Respiratory Tract Infections, Eastern Asia

Abstract

To characterize the distribution of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species isolated from pulmonary samples from persons in Asia and their association with pulmonary infections, we reviewed the literature. Mycobacterium avium complex bacteria were most frequently isolated (13%-81%) and were the most common cause of pulmonary NTM disease (43%-81%). Also pathogenic were rapidly growing mycobacteria (M. chelonae, M. fortuitum, M. abscessus). Among all NTM isolated from pulmonary samples, 31% (582/1,744) were considered clinically relevant according to American Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria. Most patients were male (79%) and had a history of tuberculosis (37%). In Asia, high prevalence of rapidly growing mycobacteria and a history of tuberculosis are distinct characteristics of pulmonary NTM disease. This geographic variation is not well reflected in the American Thoracic Society criteria for NTM infections and could be incorporated in future guidelines.

Evaluation of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization−Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry for Identification of Mycobacterium abscessus Subspecies According to Whole-Genome Sequencing

“…Different subspecies may indicate divergent treatment plans, especially for those plans that involve clarithromycin (5,28,(46)(47)(48)(49)56). Consequently, development of a fast and accurate technique for the identification of M. abscessus subspecies is urgently needed.…”

Methodological and Clinical Aspects of the Molecular Epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Other Mycobacteria

“…Rather than focusing on results of VNTR typing, which are most likely independent of virulence factors and can thus be misleading, it is better to find these virulence factors and integrate them, as well as data on host genetics and immunological status, into patient diagnostics (548). Also, these observations stem from studies performed in East Asia; given the observed differences in clinical relevance and frequency of isolation of NTM species between East Asia and other regions (549,550), these findings remain to be validated in studies in other regions.…”

Mycobacterial infections in adult patients with hematological malignancy

“…The increase in NTM infection may reflect the increase in number of transplants, the intensification of immune suppressive drugs, prolonged survival of transplant recipients, and/or improved diagnostic techniques. Although a few studies have reported on NTM infections in patients with hematological malignancy [5,[11][12][13], none of those studies investigated the clinical characteristics and outcome of NTM infection in patients with hematological malignancy.…”

“…The incidence of NTM infection among hematopoietic stem cell recipients ranged from 0.4% to 4.9% noted in previous studies [7][8][9][10]. Compared with the general population [3][4][5][6], patients with hematological malignancy have a significantly higher risk of In this study, rapidly growing mycobacteria (M. abscessus, M. fortuitum, M chelonae, 42%) were the most common isolates, followed by MAC (38%) and M. kansasii (18%). In the study by Doucette et al [7], 26 (27%) of 95 isolates were MAC and 43 (45%) of the 95 isolates were rapidly growing mycobacteria in hematopoietic stem cell recipients.…”

“…Infections caused by NTM include pulmonary infections, lymphadenitis, soft tissue infections, and disseminated disease [1,2]. The prevalence of diseases caused by NTM has increased in some countries in the world [3][4][5][6]. In Canada, the prevalence of pulmonary NTM increased from 9.1 cases per 100,000 in 1997 to 14.1 cases per 100,000 in 2003.…”