Pulmonary Disease Due to Nontuberculous Mycobacteria: Current State and New Insights.

Since pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (PNTM) lung disease was last reviewed in CHEST in 2008, new information has emerged spanning multiple domains, including epidemiology, transmission and pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment. The overall prevalence of PNTM is increasing, and in the United States, areas of highest prevalence are clustered in distinct geographic locations with common environmental and socioeconomic factors. Although the accepted paradigm for transmission continues to be inhalation from the environment, provocative reports suggest that person-to-person transmission may occur.

Pulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria.

The propensity of various nontuberculous mycobacteria to cause lung disease varies widely and is conditioned by host factors; infection is believed to occur from environmental sources. Nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease (PNTM) is increasing worldwide and Mycobacterium avium complex is the most common cause. PNTM usually occurs in one of three prototypical forms: hypersensitivity pneumonitis, cavitary tuberculosis-like disease or nodular bronchiectasis.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung diseases.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are generally hardy, ubiquitous environmental bacteria that vary in geographic distribution and pulmonary pathogenicity. Relatively few of the more than 115 species of NTM have been associated with lung disease. Diagnosis of disease due to NTM relies on a combination of clinical, imaging, and microbiologic data.

Pulmonary disease due to nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly associated with pulmonary disease. This is a worldwide phenomenon and one that is not related just to better diagnostic techniques or HIV infection. The mode of transmission of NTM is not well defined, but environmental exposure may be the major factor.