Patients with non-tuberculous mycobacteria in respiratory samples: a 5-year epidemiological study

BACKGROUND: This study describes the characteristics of patients with positive cultures of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in respiratory samples and determines the risk factors that predispose for a reinfection with different NTM species. METHODS: Patients with NTM isolates in respiratory samples between 2013 and 2017 were studied. Additionally, risk factors and comorbidities of reinfected patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The study was focused on the 280 patients with NTM isolation (28 were reinfected with at least another species). Mycobacterium avium was the main isolated species. 68% were men. Median age was 73.2. Most remarkable risk factors were: tobacco, COPD and bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis turned out to be a statistically significant risk factor for reinfection. Only 12 patients (12.4%) were treated.