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Observational Study
. 2022 Sep 9;16(9):e0010693.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010693. eCollection 2022 Sep.

Epidemiology of infection by pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacteria in French Guiana 2008-2018

Milène Chaptal  1   2 , Claire Andrejak  3 , Timothée Bonifay  4 , Emmanuel Beillard  5 , Geneviève Guillot  6 , Stéphanie Guyomard-Rabenirina  7 , Magalie Demar  8 , Sabine Trombert-Paolantoni  9 , Veronique Jacomo  10 , Emilie Mosnier  1 , Nicolas Veziris  11 , Felix Djossou  1 , Loïc Epelboin  1   12 ; French Guiana PNTM working group
Affiliations
Observational Study

Epidemiology of infection by pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacteria in French Guiana 2008-2018

Milène Chaptal et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

Introduction: Unlike diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. leprae and M. ulcerans, the epidemiology of pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacteria (PNTM) has not received due attention in French Guiana. The main objective of the current study was to define the incidence of these PNTM infections: NTM pulmonary diseases (NTM-PD) and casual PNTM isolation (responsible of latent infection or simple colonization). The secondary objectives were to determine species diversity and geographic distribution of these atypical mycobacteria.

Methods: A retrospective observational study (2008-2018) of French Guiana patients with at least one PNTM positive respiratory sample in culture was conducted. Patients were then classified into two groups: casual PNTM isolation or pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), according to clinical, radiological and microbiological criteria defined by the American Thoracic Society / Infectious Disease Society of America (ATS / IDSA) in 2007.

Results: 178 patients were included, out of which 147 had casual PNTM isolation and 31 had NTM-PD. Estimated annual incidence rate of respiratory isolates was 6.17 / 100,000 inhabitants per year while that of NTM-PD was 1.07 / 100,000 inhabitants per year. Among the 178 patients, M. avium complex (MAC) was the most frequently isolated pathogen (38%), followed by M. fortuitum then M. abscessus (19% and 6% of cases respectively), the latter two mycobacteria being mainly found in the coastal center region. Concerning NTM-PD, two species were mainly involved: MAC (81%) and M. abscessus (16%).

Discussion/conclusion: This is the first study on the epidemiology of PNTM infections in French Guiana. PNTM's incidence looks similar to other contries and metropolitan France and NTM-PD is mostly due to MAC and M.abscessus. Although French Guiana is the French territory with the highest tuberculosis incidence, NTM should not be overlooked.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Study flow chart.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Incidence of PNTM infections in French Guiana (2008–2018).
Fig 3
Fig 3. Distribution of respiratory isolates of PNTM in French Guiana.
Map was created using BdCarto NGI’s (National Geographic Institute) map database. Base layer of the map: https://geo.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/150be61acdce4635daaa8c30fe1f88f088f2e868. Layer created from IGN topo comics (2014). The original data is under Open License 2.0, the description of which is: https://www.etalab.gouv.fr/licence-ouverte-open-licence/.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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