Distinguishing TB from NTM Disease, Oregon | CDC EID

EID Journal Home > Volume 17, Number 3–March 2011

Volume 17, Number 3–March 2011
Dispatch
Distinguishing Tuberculosis from Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Lung Disease, Oregon, USA
Brian A. Kendall, Cara D. Varley, Dongseok Choi, P. Maureen Cassidy, Katrina Hedberg, Mary A. Ware, and Kevin L. Winthrop

Author affiliations: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA (B.A. Kendall); Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA (C.D. Varley, D. Choi, K.L. Winthrop); Oregon Public Health Division, Portland (P.M. Cassidy, K. Hedberg); and Multnomah County Health Department, Portland (M.A. Ware)
Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
To determine whether tuberculosis (TB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection patients could be distinguished from one another with limited information, we compared pulmonary TB and NTM patients during 2005–2006. Our finding that age, birthplace, and presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease could differentiate TB and NTM disease could assist tuberculosis control efforts.

Patients seeking treatment who have respiratory specimens positive for acid-fast bacilli present a public health dilemma. Although Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) cause chronic lung infections, only tuberculosis (TB) spreads from person to person by inhalation of organisms expectorated into the air. NTM infections are acquired directly from the environment, where they are often present in soil and various water sources.
The prevalence of NTM disease is reported to be increasing and is likely greater than that of TB in the United States (1–3). Because definitive identification of mycobacterial species can take several weeks, the ability to quickly distinguish NTM from TB on clinical grounds could help public health officials make decisions regarding contact investigations and isolation. To date, little population-based data exist that compare characteristics of pulmonary TB and NTM patients because previous studies have been limited to single institutions (4–6).

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Distinguishing TB from NTM Disease, Oregon | CDC EID


Suggested Citation for this Article
Kendall BA, Varley CD, Choi D, Cassidy M, Hedber K, Ware MA, et al. Distinguishing tuberculosis from nontuberculous mycobacteria lung disease, Oregon, USA. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Mar [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/3/506.htm
DOI: 10.3201/eid1703.101164


Comments to the Authors
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Brian A. Kendall, 30 North 1900 East, Room 4B319, Salt Lake City, UT 84132 USA; email: augustkendall@gmail.com