Long-Term Outcomes in a Population-based Cohort with Respiratory Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Isolation.

Rationale: The natural history of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) respiratory infection in the general population is poorly understood.

Objectives: To describe the long-term clinical, microbiologic, and radiographic outcomes of patients with respiratory NTM isolates.

Methods: We previously identified a population-based cohort of patients with respiratory NTM isolation during 2005-2006 and categorized patients as cases or noncases using the American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America pulmonary NTM disease criteria at that time.