Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease in southern Taiwan

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of the major nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) species and the outcome of their treatment in southern Taiwan (a high-prevalence area for mycobacterium tuberculosis [MTB]). Methods: The study was a retrospective review of patients with NTM pulmonary disease at the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from 2004 to 2005. The variables recorded and analyzed included demographics, particularly age and gender; primary clinical presentations; chest radiographic findings; risk factors; medication and outcome of treatment. Results: The study included 67 patients with NTM pulmonary disease. The average age was 66.6 ± 14.5 years and they were predominantly male (70.1%). Of these patients, 88.1% had pre-existing lung disease, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (61.2%) and TB (58.2%) as the main underlying lung diseases. Rapid-growth species (M. abscessus, 44.8% and M. fortuitum, 23.9%) were the most commonly isolated species. Of the forty patients that were treated and followed up for at least one year, 31 had a favorable outcome (mean duration of therapy, 8.46 ± 2.96 months). Conclusions: The predominant species in southern Taiwan differ from those in other countries as well as in northern Taiwan, with rapid-growth species predominating in southern Taiwan.