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Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections are well recognized as AIDS-defining events in HIV-infected patients, but much less is known about such infections in patients who have other immunocompromising conditions or are immunocompetent. Now, the 32-site French Mycobacteria Study Group has analyzed demographic, epidemiologic, clinical, and radiologic data for the 262 HIV-negative patients with NTM pulmonary infections identified from 2001 through 2003.
Of 262 isolates, 234 (89%) were slow-growing mycobacteria (mainly Mycobacterium avium complex [125], M. xenopi [66], and M. kansasii [34]), and 28 (11%) were rapidly growing organisms, primarily M. abscessus complex.
The most common symptoms were cough, dyspnea, asthenia, and weight loss. T…