[Clinical features and diagnosis of disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria]

Number of patients infected with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is increasing world-wide in recent years. In Japan, M. avium complex, M. kansasii and rapidly growing mycobacteria account for most of the pathogens. They cause chronic and indolent pulmonary infection, lymphadenitis, disseminated diseases especially in patients with AIDS and localized skin, soft tissue, and skeletal infection. Because clinical features of NTM are not discernible from those of M. tuberculosis and NTM are ubiquitous in our environment, isolation and identification of the bacilli are mandatory for the diagnosis, and several diagnostic criteria are put forth.