Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease. Risk factors.

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) pulmonary disease is considered an emerging and difficult-to-treat disease. The diagnosis relies on the integration of clinical, radiological and microbiological results (2007 ATS criteria) <b>Aim:</b> To identify factors associated with developing pulmonary disease following one MAC isolation in respiratory samples. <b>Methods:</b> Ambispective multicentre study, restrospective between 2012 and 2017 and prospective since 2018 until 2020 in 4 centres in the Basque Country. <b>Results:</b> MAC was isolated from 148 patients but only 59 met disease criteria. Only 40 of them were treated. Risk factors and main characteristics are shown in table 1. In the multivariate analysis only bronchiectasis was found to be a predictor of disease. The use of inhaled corticosteroids and isolation in patients with lung neoplasia were associated with not meeting disease criteria. <b>Conclusions:</b> Only one in three patients in whom MAC is isolated meet disease criteria in our region. Bronchiectasis was the main risk factor