Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)  are environmental organisms that can be found in soil, dust, and water including natural water sources (such as lakes, rivers, and streams) and municipal water sources (such as water for drinking and bathing). NTM can also form difficult-to-eliminate biofilms, which are collections of microorganisms that stick to each other and adhere to surfaces in moist environments, such as the insides of plumbing in buildings. 

More than 86,000 people are likely living with NTM lung disease in the United States, and infection rates appear to be increasing, especially among women and older age groups. Contact with NTM is very common, but it usually only causes infection in people with underlying lung disease, such as bronchiectasis or COPD, a weakened immune system or older age. 

NTM diagnosis remains challenging. Blood-based immunology methods, such as IGRA tests, cannot distinguish active TB from latent TB infection, and perform poorly in pediatric groups and HIV infected patients. PCR-based sputum assays employ nucleic acid amplification to detect NTM DNA and permit rapid diagnosis of NTM when analyzing sputum samples, but require special instrumentation not broadly available in resource-limited settings.