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J Clin Pharmacol 2021 May 15. Epub 2021 May 15.

Johnson and Johnson Services, Inc, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.

Based on in vitro profile of bedaquiline against mycobacterial species, it is being investigated for clinical efficacy against pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (PNTM). Being a cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A substrate, pharmacokinetic interactions of bedaquiline are anticipated with clarithromycin (a CYP3A inhibitor), which is routinely used in PNTM treatment. This Phase 1, randomized, crossover study assessed the impact of steady-state clarithromycin (500 mg every 12 hours; 14 days) on the pharmacokinetics of bedaquiline and its metabolite (M2) after single-dose bedaquiline (100 mg; n  =  16). Read More

J Pediatr 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Infectious Diseases and Systemic Inflammatory Response in Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Sant Joan de Déu Hospital Research Foundation, Barcelona, Spain; Center for Biomedical Network Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Department of Pediatrics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Translational Research Network in Pediatric Infectious Diseases (RITIP), Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Objectives: To assess the performance of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) in the differential diagnosis between Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and tuberculosis (TB) in children affected with subacute/chronic submandibular/cervical lymphadenitis.

Study Design: Multicenter observational study comparing children with microbiologically-confirmed MAC lymphadenitis from the European NontuberculouS MycoBacterial Lymphadenitis in childrEn (ENSeMBLE) study with children with TB lymphadenitis from the Spanish Network for the Study of Pediatric TB (pTBred) database.

Results: Overall, 78 patients with MAC and 34 with TB lymphadenitis were included. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021 26;11:659997. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Laboratory of Bacteriology and Mycobacteria, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), Medellín, Colombia.

(MABC is one of the most clinically relevant species among nontuberculous mycobacteria. MABC's prevalence has increased over the last two decades. Although these changes can be explained by improvements in microbiological and molecular techniques for identifying species and subspecies, a higher prevalence of chronic lung diseases may contribute to higher rates of MABC. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 May 12;14(5). Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Internal Medicine, Odense University Hospital - Svendborg, Denmark, Svendborg, Denmark.

A 72-year-old man presented with tenosynovitis of the left hand's extensor tendons that had been present for several months. He was initially treated with corticosteroids, first by local injection then systemically, but with no effect. When re-evaluated, the patient had developed a rash, and the symptoms had spread locally to surrounding structures. Read More

Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2021 May;71(5)

National Clinical Laboratory on Tuberculosis, Beijing Key Laboratory on Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing 101149, PR China.

A slow-growing, scotochromogenic mycobacterial strain (24) was isolated from the sputum of a Chinese male human. Phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rRNA gene assigned strain 24 to the complex, which includes and . The phenotypic characteristics, unique mycolic acid profile and the results of phylogenetic analysis based on and sequences strongly supported the taxonomic status of strain 24 as a representative of a species distinct from the other members of the complex. Read More

Stem Cells Transl Med 2021 May 4. Epub 2021 May 4.

Department of Biology, Skeletal Research Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Chronic nontuberculous mycobacterial infections with Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare complicate bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive airway disease, and the health of aging individuals. These insidious intracellular pathogens cause considerable morbidity and eventual mortality in individuals colonized with these bacteria. Current treatment regimens with antibiotic macrolides are both toxic and often inefficient at providing infection resolution. Read More

Expert Rev Respir Med 2021 May 2. Epub 2021 May 2.

Department of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard Institute of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard (Deemed-to-be-University), New Delhi 110 062, India.

Background And Methods: Fifty-six Indian studies on NTM diseases were selected between 1981-2020 from various electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, BIOSIS preview, and Scopus) for systematic review.

Results: NTM isolation rates increased from 0.9 % between 2001-10 to 1. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2021 Apr 9;9(4):2328-2331. Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Department of Surgery University of Colorado Aurora CO USA.

surgical site infections are rare, but notoriously difficult to treat. Eradication requires aggressive surgical resection, removal of foreign material, prolonged antibiotics, and consideration of delayed reconstruction. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2021 Apr 29. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Department of Otolaryngology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

This study aimed to assess the clinical presentation, antibiotic therapy, surgery, and outcomes in patients with otitis media caused by Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. abscessus and discuss the efficacy of surgery. This is a retrospective case review of three patients diagnosed with otomastoiditis caused by M. Read More

Science 2021 04;372(6541):465-466

Respiratory Medicine and Cardiothoracic Transplantation, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK.

Science 2021 04;372(6541)

Molecular Immunity Unit, University of Cambridge Department of Medicine, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.

Although almost all mycobacterial species are saprophytic environmental organisms, a few, such as , have evolved to cause transmissible human infection. By analyzing the recent emergence and spread of the environmental organism through the global cystic fibrosis population, we have defined key, generalizable steps involved in the pathogenic evolution of mycobacteria. We show that epigenetic modifiers, acquired through horizontal gene transfer, cause saltational increases in the pathogenic potential of specific environmental clones. Read More

Infect Dis Poverty 2021 Apr 29;10(1):59. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changbai Road 155, Changping, Beijing102206, China.

Background: Information on the prevalence and resistance spectrum of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in China is mainly based on regional or local data. To estimate the proportion of NTM cases in China, a national survey of NTM pulmonary disease was carried out based on acid-fast positive sputum samples collected in 2013.

Methods: Sputum samples collected from enrolled presumptive cases in 72 nationwide tuberculosis surveillance sites from the 31 provinces in the mainland of China were cultured using L-J medium at the National tuberculosis reference laboratory (NTRL). Read More

Microorganisms 2021 Apr 10;9(4). Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy.

The group (MFG) consists of about 15 species of fast-growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). These globally distributed microorganisms can cause diseases in humans and animals, especially fish. The increase in the number of species belonging to MFG and the diagnostic techniques panel do not allow to clarify their real clinical significance. Read More

Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 Apr 3;10(4). Epub 2021 Apr 3.

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.

Infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasing worldwide, resulting in a new global health concern. NTM treatment is complex and requires combinations of several drugs for lengthy periods. In spite of this, NTM disease is often associated with poor treatment outcomes. Read More

J Fungi (Basel) 2021 Apr 1;7(4). Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections, 1208 Geneva, Switzerland.

Opportunistic infections (OIs) and advanced HIV disease (AHD) contribute to HIV-related mortality. Here, we analyzed the situation of AHD and OIs in a cohort of newly diagnosed HIV patients from Guatemala. We included 2127 adult patients from 13 facilities across the country during 2017 to 2018. Read More

J Med Microbiol 2021 Apr;70(4)

The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

complex (MABSC) is an environmental organism and opportunistic pathogen. MABSC pulmonary infections in people with cystic fibrosis are of growing clinical concern. Resistance data guide the use of macrolides and amikacin in MABSC pulmonary disease treatment. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Apr 27;11(1):9040. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.

The nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) Mycobacterium avium is a clinically significant pathogen that can cause a wide range of maladies, including tuberculosis-like pulmonary disease. An immunocompromised host status, either genetically or acutely acquired, presents a large risk for progressive NTM infections. Due to this quietly emerging health threat, we evaluated the ability of a recombinant fusion protein ID91 combined with GLA-SE [glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant, a toll like receptor 4 agonist formulated in an oil-in-water stable nano-emulsion] to confer protection in both C57BL/6 (wild type) and Beige (immunocompromised) mouse models. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 Apr;100(17):e25283

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine.

Abstract: We report the clinical results and problems of combined administration of rifampicin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin (REC) for the treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection of the hand (hand MAC).Participants included 7 patients with hand MAC. After resection of the infected lesion, REC was prescribed for 12 months. Read More

Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021 Apr 26. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

We evaluated the activities of oxazolidinone antibiotics including linezolid, sutezolid, and delpazolid against clinical nontuberculous mycobacteria isolates. Regardless of macrolide resistance, for , , and sutezolid showed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value among oxazolidinone antibiotics. However, for , , the MIC and MBC values for all oxazolidinone antibiotics showed similar values. Read More

ERJ Open Res 2021 Apr 19;7(2). Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Dept of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

Rationale: Pulmonary infections with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly prevalent in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Clinical outcomes following NTM acquisition are highly variable, ranging from transient self-resolving infection to NTM pulmonary disease associated with significant morbidity. Relationships between airway microbiota and variability of NTM outcomes in CF are unclear. Read More

Germs 2021 Mar 15;11(1):97-104. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

PhD, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 87155.111, Post Code: 87154, Kashan, Iran.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of slow growing mycobacteria (SGM) and rapid-growing mycobacteria (RGM) retrieved from hospital water sources in Iran from 2016 to 2020.

Methods: The review was conducted to get eligible published studies from 1 January 2016 to 25 March 2020 based on PRISMA protocol. A combination of related words from the Medical Subject Heading Terms (MeSH), with (AND, OR) were used to search for published studies reporting the prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in Scopus, MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, Google Scholar, and Iranian databases. Read More

IDCases 2021 31;24:e01102. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Division of Infectious Disease, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.

Intern Med 2021 Apr 26. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Japan.

Objective Although multiple non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species can be isolated from the same patient, little has been reported on co-isolation. We clarified the trends and characteristics of the co-isolation of multiple NTM species. Methods To collect data on multiple NTM isolation, we first extracted all patients who visited our hospital from 2006 through 2015 with a diagnosis of NTM lung diseases other than Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and then reviewed their medical records to evaluate the co-isolation of multiple NTM species. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2021 Apr 24;21(1):381. Epub 2021 Apr 24.

Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, P.O. box 7804, N-5020, Bergen, Norway.

Background: There is scarce knowledge on the prevalence of diseases caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in Pakistan. In the absence of culture and identification, acid-fast bacilli (AFB) causing NTM disease are liable to be misinterpreted as tuberculosis (TB). Introduction of nucleic acid amplification testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) offers improved diagnostic accuracy, compared with smear microscopy, and also assists in differentiating MTBC from other mycobacteria. Read More

PLoS One 2021 22;16(4):e0250470. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Zhejiang Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China.

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection is similar to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. Early clinical identification and differentiation of NTM and MTB infections continues to be a major challenge. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) have the ability to efficiently and rapidly detect pathogens and are widely used in mycobacterial infections. Read More

Open Forum Infect Dis 2021 Apr 6;8(4):ofab093. Epub 2021 Mar 6.

Department of Pharmacy, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Background: Treatment options for nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections are limited by the pathogen's intrinsic resistance profile and toxicities. Tedizolid and linezolid display in vitro activity against NTM species. However, safety data and treatment outcomes are limited in the solid organ transplant (SOT) population. Read More

Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2021 Apr 21. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.

Background:  Heater-cooler devices (HCD) have been implicated in a cardiosurgical contamination scenario causing prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Aim:  We characterized contamination of new HCDs and assessed the risk of intraoperative microorganism transmission from the HCD to the operating field.

Methods:  We initially acquired four new FlexTherm and then four new Maquet HCU40 HCDs and assessed occurrence and speed of microbial contamination (including mycobacteria) assessing swab and water samples from the device. Read More

mBio 2021 04 20;12(2). Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

Since nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are pervasive in the environment and NTM infections are relatively uncommon, underlying hereditary or acquired host susceptibility factors should be sought for in most NTM-infected patients. To facilitate identification of underlying risk factors, it is useful to classify NTM disease into skin-soft tissue infections, isolated NTM lung disease, and extrapulmonary visceral/disseminated disease because the latter two categories have unique sets of underlying host risk factors. Nakajima and coworkers (M. Read More

Klin Lab Diagn 2021 Apr;66(4):223-228

Samara State Medical University.

Recently, more and more scientific works have been devoted to non-tuberculous mycobacteria, both by domestic and foreign researchers. One of the main reasons for this is the increase in patients with immunosuppression of various origins, improvement of the quality of laboratory and instrumental diagnostics of mycobacteriosis. This article focuses on the representatives of the M. Read More

JAMA 2021 04;325(15):1574

Infectious Disease Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.