Pulmonary versus Nonpulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteria, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

In Ontario, Canada, during 1998-2010, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from pulmonary sites comprised 96% of species/patient combinations isolated; annual rates of isolation and cases increased steadily. NTM isolates from nonpulmonary sites comprised 4% of species/patient combinations; annual rates and cases were temporally stable. NTM increases were driven exclusively by pulmonary isolates and disease.