Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Lung Disease (NTM-LD): Current Recommendations on Diagnosis, Treatment, and Patient Management

Kriti Pathak; Stephanie Hart; Leah Lande

doi:10.2147/IJGM.S272690

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Lung Disease (NTM-LD): Current Recommendations on Diagnosis, Treatment, and Patient Management

Int J Gen Med. 2022 Oct 1:15:7619-7629. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S272690. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Kriti Pathak^#¹, Stephanie Hart^#¹, Leah Lande^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Lankenau Medical Center, Wynnewood, PA, USA.
² Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA, USA.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are a group of ubiquitous environmental bacteria that can be found in soil, dust, and water. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is the most common pathogen and the one most associated with chronic pulmonary disease. In recent years, the prevalence of Mycobacterium avium complex-related pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) has increased and is an emerging public health concern. This is due to a combination of environmental and geographic factors, dynamic changes in organism virulence and antimicrobial susceptibility, and evolving host susceptibility. Given the dynamic nature of the disease, management of NTM pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) often includes a multimodal approach including antimicrobial therapy, airway clearance techniques, limiting environmental exposures, and reducing susceptibility to NTM through prevention of reflux and maintenance of body weight. This review will explore the most recent concepts in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of individuals with NTM pulmonary infection.

Keywords: MAC; Mycobacterium abscessus; Mycobacterium avium complex; bronchiectasis; environment; non-tuberculous mycobacteria.

Publication types

Review