Pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection: 889 cases

<b>Background:</b> We investigated patient records who had sputum sample with NTM positive culture results to identify clinical significance of NTMs. <b>Methods:</b> NTM was detected 889 patients at our hospital between 01 January 2009 and 31 December 2018 rapid test on Löwenstein-Jensen medium and P-nitro-a-acetylamino-b-hydroxypropiophenone test in MycobacteriaGrowth Indicator Tube. Hsp65PCRREA was used for strain typing. <b>Results:</b> Among 889 patients 624 (70.19%) male, mean age of 53.88 ±16.45 years), NTM strains were identified 238(26.79%). MAC was detected 74(31.09%) (M.avium(37)M.intracellulare(33), MAC(4)), M. abscessus 56(23.52%), M. kansasii 39(16.38%). 102(%11.47) of 889 patients, NTM patients were diagnosed, treated according to ATS guidelines. 176(19.79%) received tuberculosis treatment with major tuberculosis drugs; 611 (68.72%) were followed-up without therapy, 491 (80.36%) of which had single mycobacterial growth in the culture. Of 102 patients receiving NTM treatment, 86 (84.31%) had at least two mycobacterial growth. The treatment results of 102 patients receiving NTM treatment; treatment success: 40(39.21%), recurrance:3(2.94%), ongoing:24(23.52%), default:18(17.64%), exitus:10(9.80%), unknown:7(6.86%). <b>Conclusions:</b> We are making a decision to treat NTM in a low proportion of patients with NTM in culture. The success rates of NTM treatment are low.