Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease in southern Taiwan

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of the major nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) species and the outcome of their treatment in southern Taiwan (a high-prevalence area for mycobacterium tuberculosis [MTB]).

The study was a retrospective review of patients with NTM pulmonary disease at the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from 2004 to 2005. The variables recorded and analyzed included demographics, particularly age and gender; primary clinical presentations; chest radiographic findings; risk factors; medication and outcome of treatment.

The study included 67 patients with NTM pulmonary disease. The average age was 66.6+/-14.5 years and they were predominantly male (70.1%). Of these patients, 88.1% had pre-existing lung disease, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (61.2%) and TB (58.2%) as the main underlying lung diseases. Rapid-growth species (M. abscessus, 44.8% and M. fortuitum, 23.9%)were the most commonly isolated species. Of the forty patients that were treated and followed up for at least one year, 31 had a favorable outcome (mean duration of therapy, 8.46+/-2.96 months).

The predominant species in southern Taiwan differ from those in other countries as well as in northern Taiwan, with rapid-growth species predominating in southern Taiwan.