Cystic Fibrosis-Related Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection is a major cause of morbidity in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) with rates of infection increasing worldwide. Accurate diagnosis and decisions surrounding best management remain challenging. Treatment guidelines have been developed to assist physicians in managing NTM in pwCF, but involve prolonged and complex mycobacterial regimens, often associated with significant toxicity. Fortunately, current management and outcomes of NTM in CF are likely to evolve due to improved understanding of disease acquisition, better diagnostics, emerging antimycobacterial therapies, and the widespread uptake of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapies.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Mycobacterium abscessus complex; Mycobacterium avium complex; NTM; Non-tuberculous mycobacteria.