Treatment of Extrapulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Diseases

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) diseases mainly manifest as pulmonary illnesses, but 20 -30% of NTM isolates originate from extrapulmonary diseases. These diseases cause a variety of clinical syndromes, including skin and soft-tissue infections, musculoskeletal infections, lymphadenitis, and disseminated disease. In skin and soft-tissue infections, musculoskeletal infections, prolonged treatment with combinations of antibiotics is effective in the treatment of NTM diseases, with surgery as an important complementary tool. The recommended duration of therapy for skin and soft-tissue infection is usually 2 – 4 months for mild disease and 6 months for severe disease, while treatment of musculoskeletal NTM disease usually requires at least 6 - 12 months. Management options of NTM lymphadenitis include surgical intervention, medical therapy, or observation. Treatment of disseminated NTM disease generally requires 6 to 12 months after immune restoration. However, despite a considerable increase in knowledge about NTM diseases, determining optimal treatment approaches remains a complex and challenging task.