Review article
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria
Ljiljana Žmak
; HZJZ, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Mateja Janković
; KBC, Klinika za plućne bolesti "Jordanovac", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Mihaela Obrovac
; HZJZ, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Vera Katalinić-Janković
; HZJZ, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Currently, there are approximately 150 Mycobacterium species identified. Despite their low pathogenic potential, these organisms are able to cause a variety of diseases in humans including lung disease, lymphadenitis, cutaneous infections and disseminated disease, most commonly in immunocompromised persons. The diagnosis of mycobacteriosis is challenging and includes criteria that combine clinical presentation of disease, microbiological findings and radiographic appearance. The treatment of non-tuberculous mycobacteria infections is also troublesome and long lasting. Current guidelines propose the specific drug regimens depending on the species isolated and duration of therapy for at least 12 months after culture conversion. In Croatia, about 150–450 isolates of non-tuberculous mycobacteria are detected per year, but the number of patients is significantly lower, around 20 per year. The most frequently isolated species is M. gordonae, a saprophytic organism that rarely causes disease. In Croatia, the most significant non-tuberculous mycobacteria causing disease are M. avium, M. intracellulare, M. xenopi, M. kansasii, M. chelonae and M. abscessus.
Keywords
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria; Croatia; mycobacteriosis
Hrčak ID:
133428
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2013.
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