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

Abstract

Kriti Pathak,1,* Stephanie Hart,1,* Leah Lande1,2 1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Lankenau Medical Center, Wynnewood, PA, USA; 2Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA, USA*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Leah Lande, Tel [phone], Email [email protected]: 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: non-tuberculous mycobacteria, Mycobacterium avium complex, MAC, Mycobacterium abscessus, environment, bronchiectasis

Keywords

• non-tuberculous mycobacteria
• mycobacterium avium complex (mac)
• mycobacterium abscessus
• environment
• bronchiectasis