Pulmonary disease associated with mycobacteria other than tubercle bacilli in miners

Five patients with lung disease caused by mycobacteria other than tubercle (MOTT) bacilli are described. Mycobacterium kansasii was the causative organism in 4 patients and M. scrofulaceum in 1 patient. The species were repeatedly isolated from sputum specimens cultured on Löwenstein-Jensen medium. The clinical features, mycobacterial isolations, bacteriological properties of the pathogens and the therapeutic problems encountered are discussed.