Environmental sources of nontuberculous mycobacteria

Joseph O Falkinham 3rd

doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2014.10.003

Environmental sources of nontuberculous mycobacteria

Clin Chest Med. 2015 Mar;36(1):35-41. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2014.10.003. Epub 2014 Nov 6.

Author

Joseph O Falkinham 3rd¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 1405 Perry Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0406, USA. Electronic address: jofiii@vt.edu.

PMID: 25676517
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2014.10.003

Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) include over 150 species. The source for human infection is the environment. NTM are normal inhabitants of soil and drinking water. NTM grow and persist in many buildings. They are not contaminants of drinking water, but members of the natural drinking water microbial population. Infection occurs because humans share the same habitats. Because the ecology, antibiotic susceptibility, and virulence of individual species differs, identifying NTM isolates to species is important. Treatment requires multiple antibiotics. NTM patients are innately sensitive to NTM infection, resulting in reinfection. Knowledge of the sources of NTM can reduce exposure to environmental NTM.

Keywords: Aerosolization; Drinking water; Mycobacterium; Soil.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Environmental Exposure
Humans
Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / microbiology*
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / pathogenicity*
Soil Microbiology
Water Microbiology
Water Supply