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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

An Experimental Model to Study Tuberculosis-Malaria Coinfection upon Natural Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium berghei
09:02

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Published on: February 17, 2014

Pulmonary infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria

M A Contreras1, O T Cheung, D E Sanders

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, West Park Hospital, Ontario, Canada.

The American Review of Respiratory Disease
|January 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections cause chronic lung disease. This study highlights Mycobacterium xenopi as a significant pathogen in Ontario, despite treatment challenges and a notable mortality rate.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections are an emerging cause of chronic pulmonary disease.
  • Preexisting lung conditions and alcohol abuse are common comorbidities in patients with NTM.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical, radiologic, and bacteriologic presentation of hospitalized NTM patients.
  • To assess the prevalence of different NTM species and treatment outcomes.
  • To identify the significance of Mycobacterium xenopi as a pulmonary pathogen.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 89 adult patients hospitalized with NTM between 1981 and 1985.
  • Analysis of clinical, radiologic, and bacteriologic data.
  • Evaluation of treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Mycobacterium avium complex was the most common NTM (51%), followed by Mycobacterium xenopi (38%) and Mycobacterium kansasii (9%).
  • High rates of comorbidities, drug resistance, and toxicity limited treatment effectiveness.
  • Mortality rate was 32% within 18 months; however, 29% of treated patients achieved bacteriologic conversion.
  • Mycobacterium xenopi demonstrated distinct in vitro drug resistance patterns compared to other NTM.

Conclusions:

  • Mycobacterium xenopi is an important cause of pulmonary NTM disease in southern Ontario.
  • Treatment outcomes for NTM infections are often poor due to comorbidities and drug resistance.
  • Despite challenges, bacteriologic conversion is achievable in a subset of treated patients.

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