Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease in southern Taiwan. - Related Articles
Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease in southern Taiwan.
Chang Gung Med J. 2009 Sep-Oct;32(5):499-508
Authors: Wang CC, Lin MC, Liu JW, Wang YH
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.
PMID: 19840507 [PubMed - in process] [Tuberculous Meningitis]