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Natural disasters and nontuberculous mycobacteria: a recipe for increased disease?

Jennifer R Honda1, Jon N Bernhard2, Edward D Chan1

  • 1Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; National Jewish Health, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, CO.

Chest
|February 4, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Natural disasters increase exposure to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), potentially driving NTM lung disease. Increased environmental surveillance is crucial for public health following such events.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Infectious disease epidemiology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Large-scale natural disasters create conditions for increased exposure to environmental microbes.
  • Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are common in soil and water, posing a risk post-disaster.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the link between NTM lung disease incidence and natural disaster frequency in the US.
  • To investigate the potential role of natural disasters in driving NTM infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on NTM and natural disasters.
  • Geographic analysis of NTM infection rates and disaster occurrences in the US.
  • Analysis of NTM culture data from Louisiana residents post-hurricane.

Main Results:

  • Geographic overlap identified between NTM infection prevalence and areas prone to natural disasters.
  • A notable increase in positive NTM cultures observed in Louisiana following major hurricanes.
  • Hypothesis that natural disasters contribute to the rise in NTM infections.

Conclusions:

  • Natural disasters may be a significant factor in the increasing incidence of NTM lung disease.
  • Enhanced environmental and clinical surveillance for NTM is recommended before and after natural disasters.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the NTM-disaster relationship.

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