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Review
. 2015 Mar;36(1):13-34.
doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2014.10.002. Epub 2014 Nov 6.

Epidemiology of human pulmonary infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria: a review

D Rebecca Prevots  1 , Theodore K Marras  2
Affiliations
Review

Epidemiology of human pulmonary infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria: a review

D Rebecca Prevots et al. Clin Chest Med. 2015 Mar.

Abstract

Population-based data have documented a worldwide increase in the prevalence of human nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections since 2000. Mycobacterium avium complex is predominant in North America and East Asia, whereas in regions within Europe, M kansasii, M xenopi, and M malmoense are more common. Host factors important to the current epidemiology of NTM pulmonary disease include thoracic skeletal abnormalities, rheumatoid arthritis, and use of immunomodulatory drugs. Clustering of disease within families suggests a heritable genetic predisposition to disease susceptibility. Warm, humid environments with high atmospheric vapor pressure contribute to population risk.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Global; Nontuberculous mycobacteria; Pulmonary disease.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Annual prevalence of PNTM cases among a sample of U.S. Medicare Part B enrollees by sex from 1997 to 2007.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of NTM isolation and disease, and TB incidence, Canada, 1998–2010
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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