Non-tuberculosis mycobacterial lung disease: Analyses of 62 cases.

Introduction: The objective of our study was to evaluate the frequency of isolation of respiratory infection by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and to analyze the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of patients infected with NTM.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of 83 respiratory samples with NTM isolation from 62 patients between 2015 and 2021 at the Doctor Balmis General University Hospital.

Results: MNT respiratory infection criteria were met in 15 patients (24.2%). The most frequently isolated NTM's in patients who met infection criteria were those belonging to the Mycobacterium avium complex. Of the 15 infected patients, 11 (73.3%) had respiratory comorbidity and the most frequent respiratory comorbidity in infected patients was bronchiectasis (5 patients; 45.5%). Of the infected patients, targeted antibiotic treatment was prescribed in 83.3% of the cases.

Conclusion: One in 7 patients with NTM isolation meets infection criteria. The main role of the species of Mycobacterium avium complex is corroborated, and the relevance of lung structural damage in the development of lung disease due to NTM.