Clinical Characteristics of Nontuberculous Mycobacterium Infection Cases in Sichuan, China in 2016–2021: A Retrospective Study

  Objective  To study the distribution of nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) strains, clinical characteristics and drug sensitivity data of NTM infections so as to provide support for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by NTM infection in Sichuan.

  Methods  The clinical data of NTM infection cases treated at the Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu between July 2016 and July 2021 were collected and the characteristics of the infections were retrospectively reviewed.

  Results  There were differences in sex, age and underlying diseases among the NTM infection cases in Sichuan. Specifically, young and middle-aged men aged between 20 and 40 were susceptible to AIDS, older men aged over 60 were susceptible to lung diseases, and middle-aged and older women over 40 were susceptible to bronchiectasis. Respiratory tract was the main route of NTM infection. The dominant strain in Sichuan was M. chelonae/abscessus. The drug resistance rate of M. avium and M. chelonae/abscessus were relatively higher.

  Conclusion  For NTM infection patients with different demographic characteristics and underlying diseases, the NTM infection sites, strains, and drug resistance are also different. Definite etiological diagnosis is essential to the treatment of NTM infection. We should highlight the importance of adopting individualized treatment for different NTM infections.