TY - JOUR T1 - Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria. An Emerging Threat? JO - Archivos de Bronconeumología T2 - AU - Martínez González,Susana AU - Cano Cortés,Arantza AU - Sota Yoldi,Luis Alfonso AU - García García,José María AU - Alba Álvarez,Luz María AU - Palacios Gutiérrez,Juan José SN - 15792129 M3 - 10.1016/j.arbr.2017.08.004 DO - 10.1016/j.arbr.2017.08.004 UR - https://archbronconeumol.org/en-non-tuberculous-mycobacteria-an-emerging-threat-articulo-S1579212917302574 AB - Introduction and objectiveNon-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolates are becoming more common. The main objective of our study was to establish the number and diversity of NTM species in our region and their distribution according to the source sample, age and gender of the patients, and to analyze clinically significant isolates. MethodologyProspective study of all NTM isolated in Asturias from 2005 to 2012. Samples were processed following internationally accepted guidelines. Statistical analysis was based on Fisher's exact test for 2×2 contingency tables. ResultsA total of 3284 mycobacteria were isolated: 1499 Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) and 1785 NTM. During the study, NTM isolation rates increased while MTB isolation decreased. NTM were more frequent in men (p<0.001). M. gordonae was the most frequently isolated species but did not cause disease in any case. NTM isolates from 212 patients were associated with clinically significant disease (17.1%). M. kansasii and M. avium were most commonly associated with disease. The number of M. kansasii isolates from men was statistically significant (p<0.01). ConclusionsIn our study, NTM isolates increased by 35%, compared with a 21% decline in cases of MTB. Both isolation of NTM and clinically significant cases were more common in men. Only 17.1% of NTM isolates were associated with disease, most commonly M. avium complex and M. kansasii. ER -