Non tuberculous mycobacteria infections in patients with silicosis

<b>Rationale:</b> In the past few years there are growing reports of non-tuberculosis mycobacterial (NTM) infections in patients with silicosis. <b>Methods:</b> This was a retrospective observational single-center study, in which we reviewed the medical reports of 120 patients with silicosis for whom bronchoalveolar lavage or sputum culture were performed in order to diagnose NTM between the years: 2013-2019. <b>Results:</b> We found 11/120 patients with NTM infections. The average patients age was 49 years old, all of whom were males who have been exposed to Cesar stone as part of their occupation. The main presenting symptoms were cough for 1-12 weeks. The NTM bacteria that were detected were: M. kansasii, M. abscessus, M. intracellulare, M. fortuitum and M. xenopi. 4 out of the 11 patients with silicosis died until the end of the follow up. On high resolution CT the main finding was cavitary lesions. <b>Conclusions:</b> It is important to keep in mind NTM infections in every patient with silicosis who presented with a pulmonary infection which does not respond to a standard antibiotic therapy.