Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Author: Dr Charles L. Daley National Jewish Health 2008-07-28

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria: An Emerging Epidemic

Introduction 

Tuberculosis, one of the most recognized infections in the world, is caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and can be transmitted from person to person. However, M. tuberculosis is just one of over 125 different species of mycobacteria most of which are referred to as nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).(1) NTM are dispersed widely in our environment and unlike tuberculosis, are not spread from person to person.  NTM are also less likely to cause disease in humans, but the frequency of NTM-related disease is increasing and in some areas of the world these infections are more common than tuberculosis. This article will review what we know about NTM, their epidemiology (where they occur and who and how many they affect), ability to cause disease, and treatment.

Tuberculosis

Author: Dr Charles L. Daley National Jewish Health 2008-07-28

Introduction

Tuberculosis is a disease that is spread from person-to-person through the air. It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slowly growing bacterium that is resistant to most antibiotics and, thus, difficult to treat. Despite the availability of effective therapy since the 1950’s, there are more cases of tuberculosis in the world today than in recorded history.
Left untreated, tuberculosis can kill approximately one half of patients within five years and produce significant morbidity (illness) in others. It is estimated that one-third of all HIV-infected patients die from tuberculosis and that it kills more adults than any other infectious disease. Inadequate therapy for tuberculosis can lead to drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis that are even more difficult to treat; the drugs needed to treat these strains are associated with more drug toxicities and greatly increased costs. This knol will review what is known about tuberculosis and how we diagnose and treat the disease.