Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Noncystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

During the past decades, a growing interest has been raised in evaluating nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBE). This paper reviews several aspects of the correlations between NTM and NCFBE, including pathogenesis, radiological features, diagnos...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Giulia Bonaiti, Alberto Pesci, Almerico Marruchella, Giuseppe Lapadula, Andrea Gori, Stefano Aliberti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2015-01-01
Series:BioMed Research International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/197950
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Summary:During the past decades, a growing interest has been raised in evaluating nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBE). This paper reviews several aspects of the correlations between NTM and NCFBE, including pathogenesis, radiological features, diagnosis, and management. Bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease are connected, but which one comes first is still an unresolved question. The rate of NTM lung disease in NCFBE varies through the studies, from 5% to 30%. The most frequent species isolated is MAC. NCFBE patients affected by NTM infection frequently present coinfections, including both other different NTM species and microorganisms, such as P. aeruginosa. Once a diagnosis of NTM disease has been reached, the initiation of therapy is not always mandatory. NTM species isolated, patients’ conditions, and disease severity and its evolution should be considered. Risk factors for disease progression in NCFBE patients with NTM are low body mass index, cavitary disease, consolidations, and macrolide resistance at presentation.
ISSN:2314-6133
2314-6141