Review of the international clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of lung infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) include more than 190 species and subspecies. Some NTM species can cause human diseases of the lungs or extrapulmonary infections. The guidelines focus on pulmonary mycobacteriosis in adult patients without cystic fibrosis or HIV infection caused by the most common NTMs, such as Mycobacterium avium complex, Mycobacterium kansasii, and Mycobacterium xenopi among slow-growing NTMs and Mycobacterium abscessus complex among fast-growing species. Experts of American Thoracic Society (ATS), European Respiratory Society (ERS), European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), and American Society for Infectious Diseases (IDSA) contributed to the development of the guidelines. A total of 31 evidence-based recommendations are provided for the diagnosis and treatment of NTM-induced lung infections.