The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

Editorial

The Challenge of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Authors: Daniel E. Cole, MD, Kenneth N. Olivier, MD, MPH

Abstract

The case report by Hayes in the June 2005 issue of the Journal 1illustrates a difficult area in the care of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). It highlights several important points for the CF practitioner that relate to CF as a risk factor for pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection and the very difficult diagnostic and management problems NTM pose in these patients.

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References

1. Hayes D. Mycobacteriumabscessus and other nontuberculous mycobacteria: evolving respiratory pathogens in cystic fibrosis. South Med J 2005;98:657–661.
 
2. Olivier KN, Weber DJ, Wallace RJ, et al. for the Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Cystic Fibrosis Study Group. Nontuberculous mycobacteria. I: multicenter prevalence study in cystic fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care 2003;167:828–834.
 
3. Wallace RJ Jr, Glassroth J, Griffith DE, et al. American Thoracic Society, diagnosis and treatment of disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1997;156:S1–25.
 
4. Cullen AR, Cannon CL, Mark EJ, et al. Mycobacterium abscessus infection in cystic fibrosis. Colonization or infection? Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000;161:641–645.
 
5. Olivier KN, Weber DJ, Lee JH, et al. for the Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Cystic Fibrosis Study Group. Nontuberculous mycobacteria. II: nested-cohort study of impact on cystic fibrosis lung disease.Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2003;167:835–840.
 
6. Olivier KN, Yankaskas JR, Knowles MR. Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease in cystic fibrosis. Semin Respir Infect 1996;11:272–284.
 
7. Sanguinetti M, Ardito F, Fiscarelli E, et al. Fatal pulmonary infection due to multidrug-resistentmycobacterium abscessus in a patient with cystic fibrosis. J Clin Microbil 2001;39:816–819.