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. 2021 Mar 1;40(3):e120-e122.
doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002999.

High Prevalence of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Cystic Fibrosis Patients in Tropical French Reunion Island

Didier Ho  1 , Olivier Belmonte  2 , Michel Andre  1 , Virgile Gazaille  1 , Caroline Perisson  3 , Elsa Gachelin  4 , Jérôme Allyn  5 , Annabelle Payet  6 , Nathalie Coolen-Allou  1
Affiliations

High Prevalence of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Cystic Fibrosis Patients in Tropical French Reunion Island

Didier Ho et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. .

Abstract

Background: Reunion Island is a French overseas department located in a tropical area, where cystic fibrosis incidence is high. Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are at risk of developing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection. Epidemiologic studies are lacking in Reunion Island.

Methods: From 2002 to 2015, a retrospective review was performed in university hospitals on Reunion Island. All CF patients having at least 1 positive NTM isolate were included. Clinical, radiologic, and microbiologic data were collected from patient records.

Results: Fifty-one CF patients were included. The overall estimated prevalence of NTM was 26.4% in total CF population and 36.9% in patients over 12 years of age. Mycobacterium abscessus and Mycobacterium avium were the most frequently identified species found in 31 patients (60.8%) and 14 patients (27.4%), respectively. A rare NTM species: Mycobacterium simiae was found in 4 patients (7.8%). Twenty-nine patients (56.9%) met the American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria for infection. They were more likely younger with a low body mass index and more frequently infected by Mycobacterium abscessus (22/29).

Conclusion: The overall prevalence of NTM in tropical Reunion Island is 3 times higher than in metropolitan France. A different environmental exposure in a tropical climate or risk factors related to cystic fibrosis or its treatment in Reunion patients could explain it.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Supplementary concepts