Work

Highlight on Advances in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Disease in North America

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous in the environment and exist as an important cause of pulmonary infections in humans. Pulmonary involvement is the most common disease manifestation of NTM and the incidence of NTM is growing in North America. Susceptibility to NTM infection is incompletely understood; therefore preventative tools are not well defined. Treatment of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection is difficult and entails multiple antibiotics and an extended treatment course. Also, there is a considerable variation in treatment management that should be considered before initiating treatment. We highlight the new findings in the epidemiology diagnosis and treatment of mycobacterial infections. We debate new advances regarding NTM infection in cystic fibrosis patients and solid organ transplant recipients. Finally, we introduce a new epidemiologic model for NTM disease based on virulence-exposure-host factors.

Source: BioMed Research International

DOI: 10.1155/2014/919474

Authors: Mehdi Mirsaeidi, Maham Farshidpour, Mary Beth Allen, Golnaz Ebrahimi, Joseph O. Falkinham

Institutions: University of Illinois Chicago, University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Louisville, Virginia Tech

Language: English

Topic: Mycobacterium research and diagnosis

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,680