Clinical relevance of non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated in the Nijmegen-Arnhem region, The Netherlands

Background: The frequency of clinical isolation of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in the Netherlands is increasing, but its clinical relevance is often uncertain. Objective: To assess the frequency and clinical relevance of isolation of NTM in four associated hospitals in a single region in the Netherlands. Methods: Medical files of all patients from whom NTM were isolated between January 1999 and January 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. Diagnostic criteria for non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease published by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) were used to determine clinical relevanc... Mehr ...