Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease epidemiology in Taiwan: A systematic review.

Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are critical emerging global infectious pathogens. Though NTM can be mere colonizers when isolated from human specimens, NTM are also responsible for diverse human infections. NTM-lung disease (NTM-LD) is the most common human disease entity. The present review aims to provide general insight into NTM-LD epidemiology in Taiwan. In reviewing NTM epidemiology in Taiwan, we discovered three distinguishing features. First, NTM disease incidence has increased in Taiwan over the past decade. Second, the distribution of NTM varies geographically in Taiwan. Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) is the dominant species in northern Taiwan, whereas Mycobacterium abscessus complex and MAC may be equally dominant in southern Taiwan. Third, researchers in Taiwan have published valuable research investigating NTM among special patient populations, including patients in intensive care units, with ventilator dependency, with pulmonary tuberculosis, and who are infected with specific NTM species. The largest obstacle to clarifying NTM epidemiology in Taiwan may be the lack of routine NTM species identification in laboratories. Increased awareness of NTM diseases and acknowledgment that NTM species identification is crucial and guides clinical management are essential steps for facilitating the identification of NTM species in laboratories.

• Authors: Meng-Rui Lee, Lih-Yu Chang, Jen-Chung Ko, Hao-Chien Wang, Yi-Wen Huang
• Journal: Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan yi zhi (J Formos Med Assoc) Vol. 119 Suppl 1 Pg. S4-S12 (Jun 2020) ISSN: 0929-6646 [Print] Singapore
• PMID: 32482605 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Systematic Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Humans
• Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous (epidemiology)
• Mycobacterium abscessus
• Mycobacterium avium Complex
• Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
• Taiwan (epidemiology)