Nontuberculous mycobacterial disease. Experience in a southern California hospital

The experience with nontuberculous mycobacterial disease at an "acute-care" hospital in southern California between 1971 and 1981 is reported. Forty-five patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial or Mycobacterium bovis-caused disease were identified by retrospective review. Of these, 31 patients (69%) had pulmonary infection alone, nine (20%) had cervical lymphadenitis, two (4%) had disseminated disease, two (4%) had cutaneous infection, and one had soft tissue infection. Nonmycobacterial pulmonary disease was noted in 15 (33%) of the patients and underlying malignant neoplasms were noted in eight (18%). Symptoms most frequently reported at initial examinations of patients with pulmonary disease were cough, weight loss, sputum production, and fatigue. Response to therapy was more successful in patients with Mycobacterium kansasii-caused disease than in those with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare-caused pulmonary disease. We conclude that nontuberculous mycobacterial disease is not rare in the general hospital setting in southern California.