Explanation of Treatment of Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria [NTM]

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Treatment of Non-Tubercular Mycobacterium (NTM) lung disease varies from person to person.

Not everyone who is diagnosed with NTM lung disease needs to begin treatment right away. Some localized infections are very slow-growing and may or may not progress. Empirical therapy for suspected NTM lung disease is not recommended.

The decision to start Non-tubercular Mycobacteria (NTM) treatment is based on:

The severity of NTM disease
Risk of progression of NTM disease
Presence of Comorbidity
Goal of Treatment
The standard treatment for most NTM infections is a combination of two or more antibiotics (like Clarithromycin, Azithromycin, Ethambutol, Rifampin etc), taken over many months

The specific drugs are prescribed depending on the NTM species involved, and whether or not the organism has developed any antibiotic resistance and the immune status of the patient.

As a treatment protocol, patients are also counselled for risk as well as the benefit of treatment and follow up needs.

The progress of the treatment will be monitored by collecting follow-up sputum samples.

NTM disease will only be considered cured when the samples show no sign of NTM infection for at least 12 months. Long term follow-up is needed for monitoring the symptoms, radiological changes, Mycobacteria culture results.

Surgical resections for Pulmonary NTM may be considered by experts considering the benefits and risks involved.

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