Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections and Anti–Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Therapy

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections and Anti–Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Therapy

Patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-alpha) therapy are at increased risk for tuberculosis and other granulomatous diseases, but little is known about illness caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in this setting. We reviewed the US Food and Drug Administration MedWatch database for reports of NTM disease in patients receiving anti-TNF-alpha therapy. Of 239 report...

Nontuberculous Mycobacterium Infection and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Antagonists

To the Editor: Mycobacterium haemophilum is an aerobic, slowgrowing microorganism with optimal growth at 30°C to 32°C. It has a unique requirement for ferric iron–containing compounds (1), from which it acquired its name (i.e., haemophilum). Infections with M. haemophilum are rare, but cervicofacial lymphadenitis caused by M. haemophilum has been described in children (2). Besides cervicofacial...

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Respiratory Tract Infections,

Changing Epidemiology of Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease is a notifiable condition in Queensland, Australia. Mycobacterial isolates that require species identification are forwarded to the Queensland Mycobacterial Reference Laboratory, providing a central opportunity to capture statewide data on the epidemiology of NTM disease. We compared isolates obtained in 1999 and 2005 and used data from the Queensland n...

Skin and Soft Tissue Infections Due to Nontuberculous Mycobacteria.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review describes recent trends in the epidemiology of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), emerging pathogens, new insights into NTM pathogenesis, and advances in diagnosis and treatment. RECENT FINDINGS Emerging pathogens include Mycobacterium chimaera and drug-resistant subspecies of Mycobacterium abscessus. Important virulence mechanisms of pathogenic NTM include the a...