Research article: Frequency of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Pulmonary Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic at Southern Texas

Anh Le, Rajkumar Rajendran, Janet Enderle, Efstathia Polychronopoulou, Carol Bartsch, Ping Ren

Abstract

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary disease (PD) is a growing global concern. COVID-19 exhibits varying severity, particularly among those with existing lung conditions, making it essential to examine NTM PD prevalence in the context of the pandemic.

Methods: Our cross-sectional study investigated NTM PD frequency, causative NTM species, patient demographics, and treatment outcomes by reviewing electronic health records.

Results: We found a higher prevalence of NTM PD in patients aged 65 and older with underlying medical conditions. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Mycobacterium abscessus were the most frequently isolated NTM species. Despite increased acid-fast bacillus (AFB) culture testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, NTM PD cases decreased from 2.78% pre-pandemic to 0.78% during the pandemic. Notably, one patient who had both NTM PD and COVID-19 had a much longer recovery time.

Conclusions: The insights from our study are valuable for healthcare providers, public health officials, and policymakers, deepening our understanding of NTM infections amid pulmonary diseases, including COVID-19.

Keywords: Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Pulmonary Disease; COVID-19, frequency, Mycobacterium avium complex, Mycobacterium abscessus

Int. J. Bio. Lab. Sci 2024(13)2:108-117 【PDF】