Latest status of non-tuberculous mycobacteria prevalence in Türkiye and the world: Systematic review

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) can cause diseases not only in individuals with compromised immune systems but also in those with normal immune function. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of NTM in Türkiye and worldwide between 2012 and 2022. This study was designed following the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) procedure. A systematic search was conducted between January 2012 and September 2022 using different electronic databases, including Pubmed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Ebsco, Scopus, Türk Medline, and Google Scholar. During the literature review process, titles and abstracts were examined and the full texts of the studies were accessed. In 13 research articles from Türkiye included in the study, a total of 17.293 samples were studied and a total of 1304 NTM (7.54%) strains were isolated from these samples. Among the 1304 NTM strains reported from Türkiye, the top three most frequently isolated species were M. abscessus (29.83%), M. lentiflavum (14.97%), M. fortuitum (14.38%). In 35 studies included from around the world, a total of 512.626 samples were studied and a total of 12.631 NTM (2.46%) strains were isolated from these samples. Among the 12631 NTM strains isolated, the top three most frequently isolated species were M. intracellulare (28.13%), M. avium (17.70%) and M. abscessus (14.88%). This study unveiled the global prevalence of NTM-infected patients, detailing species distribution and microbiological diagnostic methods. Variations in NTM spread were observed, influenced by diverse factors.