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The epidemiology of nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases in the United States. Results from a national survey.
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1987
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Nontuberculous Mycobacterial DiseasesPathologyUnited StatesMycobacterium Avium ComplexDiagnostic AlgorithmClinical EpidemiologyInfection ControlTuberculosis DiagnosticsPublic HealthNational SurveyInfectious Disease EpidemiologyPulmonary TuberculosisPulmonary PathologyTuberculosisClinical Infectious DiseaseClinical MicrobiologyEpidemiologyPotential Ntm PathogensMicrobial DiseaseInfectious Respiratory DiseaseMicrobiologyMedicineDiagnostic Microbiology
NTM disease epidemiology is shifting, likely driven by lower tuberculosis rates, rising chronic lung disease, increased specimen culturing, and ecological changes. The study collected demographic, clinical, and laboratory data on 5,469 patients with isolated NTM over 1981–1983. M.
During the 2-yr period 1981-83, demographic, clinical, and laboratory information was collected for 5,469 patients from whom nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) had been isolated. Among the potential NTM pathogens, isolates of Mycobacterium avium complex were most frequent, followed by M. kansasii, M. fortuitum, M. scrofulaceum, and M. chelonae. Almost 90% of the isolates were obtained from respiratory specimens. Prevalence rates for NTM disease, as calculated by a diagnostic algorithm, were highest for M. avium complex (1.3/10(5)), M. fortuitum-M. chelonae (0.2/10(5)). The data suggest a changing epidemiologic picture of NTM disease due perhaps to the decreasing incidence of tuberculosis, the increasing prevalence of chronic lung disease, and increased culturing of diagnostic specimens, as well as possibly a change in the ecology of these organisms.