Detecting clusters of high nontuberculous mycobacteria infection risk for persons with cystic fibrosis - An analysis of U.S. counties

Rachel A Mercaldo; Julia E Marshall; D Rebecca Prevots; Ettie M Lipner; Joshua P French

doi:10.1016/j.tube.2022.102296

Detecting clusters of high nontuberculous mycobacteria infection risk for persons with cystic fibrosis - An analysis of U.S. counties

Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2023 Jan:138:102296. doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2022.102296. Epub 2022 Dec 19.

Authors

Rachel A Mercaldo¹, Julia E Marshall², D Rebecca Prevots³, Ettie M Lipner⁴, Joshua P French⁵

Affiliations

¹ Division of Intramural Research, Epidemiology and Population Studies Unit, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA. Electronic address: rachel.mercaldo@nih.gov.
² Division of Intramural Research, Epidemiology and Population Studies Unit, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA. Electronic address: julia.marshall@nih.gov.
³ Division of Intramural Research, Epidemiology and Population Studies Unit, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA. Electronic address: rprevots@nih.gov.
⁴ Division of Intramural Research, Epidemiology and Population Studies Unit, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA. Electronic address: ettie.lipner@nih.gov.
⁵ Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA. Electronic address: joshua.french@ucdenver.edu.

Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacteria are ubiquitous environmental bacteria that frequently cause disease in persons with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). The risks for NTM infection vary geographically. Detection of high-risk areas is important for focusing prevention efforts. In this study, we apply five cluster detection methods to identify counties with high NTM infection risk. Four clusters were detected by at least three of the five methods, including twenty-five counties in five states. The geographic area and number of counties in each cluster depended upon the detection method used. Identifying these clusters supports future studies of environmental predictors of infection and will inform control and prevention efforts.

Keywords: Clustering; Clusters; Cystic fibrosis; NTM; Nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Cystic Fibrosis* / complications
Cystic Fibrosis* / diagnosis
Cystic Fibrosis* / epidemiology
Humans
Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous* / diagnosis
Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous* / epidemiology
Mycobacterium tuberculosis*
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
Registries

Grants and funding

Z99 AI999999/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States