Beyond antibiotics: recent developments in the diagnosis and management of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection

Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary disease represents a significant clinical challenge with suboptimal therapy and increasing prevalence globally. Although clinical practice guidelines seek to standardise the approach to diagnosis and treatment of NTM disease, a lack of robust evidence limits their utility and significant variability exists in clinical practice. Here we walk through some novel approaches in diagnosis and therapy that are under development to tackle a disease where traditional strategies are failing.Educational aims To recognise the growing prevalence and importance of NTM pulmonary disease globally. To identify shortfalls in current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, and highlight the challenges that must be addressed in future research and development efforts. To appreciate the role of novel therapeutic approaches such as immunomodulation of host defence, and to explore some examples of burgeoning therapies.