Pulmonary Infection and Colonization with Nontuberculous Mycobacteria, Taiwan, 2000–2012

Abstract

We analyzed samples from 13,652 patients who had respiratory cultures positive for mycobacteria in Taiwan during 2000–2012 and found that 56.9% were positive for nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Whereas annual prevalence of tuberculosis decreased during the study period, prevalence of NTM disease and colonization increased, particularly among older patients and male patients.

Keywords

• tuberculosis and other mycobacteria
• bacteria
• nontuberculous mycobacteria
• NTM
• Taiwan
• pulmonary