Welcome Message
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are important and increasingly common causes of infection in the lung and other organs, including the skin and soft tissue. Though the overall prevalence of lung infection with NTM in the United States has not been well established, it appears to be more common than tuberculosis. Pulmonary NTM infections are reported more frequently in women, older individuals, and those with underlying lung diseases such as bronchiectasis and COPD. Much remains to be learned about the pathogenesis, epidemiology (including which individuals or group are most susceptible and why) and optimal antimicrobial treatment regimens. Evidence-based guidelines establishing specific recommendations about indications for therapy are also sorely needed. Ultimately, more research is necessary to address these and other pertinent issues and help guide patients and clinicians.
Thankfully, there is increasing awareness about nontuberculous mycobacterial infection among patients and providers, reflected at ATS and a number of other organizations. There have been several, well-attended scientific sessions devoted to NTM infection at recent ATS International Conferences. The May 2016 meeting, for example, featured a comprehensive Postgraduate Course on NTM pulmonary infection.
In addition, The NTM Info and Research (NTM ir) organization, started by an NTM patient and her family, supports patients, education and research. Another example of initiatives to promote research in the field is the Bronchiectasis and NTM Research Registry of the COPD Foundation that is actively enrolling patients with NTM infection into a comprehensive national database. Finally, the FDA convened a Patient Focused Drug Development public meeting for NTM lung infections in Silver Spring, Maryland on October 15, 2015.
Gregory Tino, MD
Chief, Department of Medicine
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Associate Professor of Medicine
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Chair, ATS Assembly on Clinical Problems
Susan Wisliceny
Director of Operations & Patient Relations
NTM Info & Research Inc
Member, ATS Public Advisory Roundtable
NTM Info & Research, Inc.
NTMir's mission is to save and improve lives through research, education, early detection, and improved treatments for people with pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease.
