Nontuberculous mycobacterial disease in transplant recipients: early diagnosis and treatment

Infections due to nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections are increasing and, thus, it is likely that practitioners will see an increase in NTM infections in transplant recipients.

There have been few recent comprehensive studies evaluating the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of NTM infections in transplant recipients. Most recent studies have reported unusual and interesting manifestations of NTM infection. Other studies have described the posttransplant outcomes of patients with pretransplant cultures that grew NTM and provided recommendations regarding the appropriateness of performing transplants in these patients.

Recent studies have documented the protean nature of the clinical presentation of NTM infections in transplant recipients. These studies, as well as previously published reports, highlight the need for a high index of suspicion for clinicians when managing transplant patients with unexplained fever, cutaneous lesions, joint infections, or radiographic opacities. Early diagnosis of NTM infection and initiation of therapy are needed to prevent morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population.