PREVALENCE & CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF NONTUBERCULOUS MYCOBACTERIUM (NTM) SPECIES

In developing countries, like India, where tuberculosis is still a huge health challenge, the prevalence of Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) diseases are expected to rise. As themedical conditions (eg. HIV infection), which are related to impair or compromise the immune system, become more widespread, so the opportunistic infections, like Mycobacterial infections will find a dominant role. Among mycobacterial infections, tuberculosis is more common and hence get attention by clinicians, researchers and policy-makers. So, the infections caused by Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) often fall on the category of neglected and ignored cousins. But, the ability of causing infections by different Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) species are also quite high and severity of infections can go to any extent. NTM species can potentially infect any part of the body, starting from CNS to bones. The symptoms also vary from person to person and from one infection type to another. For example, the severity of symptoms ranges from mere cough and weight loss to coughing up of blood (hemoptysis) also in extreme cases can lead to more severe complications, if left untreated or improperly treated. So, along with tubercular Mycobacterium (MTB), our focus should also be laid into the NTM species, as the prevalence and infection causing ability are also very high. So, with regard to the complexity of identification of NTM species, it should be recommended that laboratory diagnosis of NTM diseases can be made centralized by strengthening or setting up quality national and regional level infrastructure.