Clinical Significance, Species Distribution, and Temporal Trends of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria, Denmark, 1991–2022

Victor Naestholt Dahl; Andreas Arnholdt Pedersen; Anders Norman; E. Michael Rasmussen; Jakko van Ingen; Aase Bengaard Andersen; Christian Morberg Wejse; Troels Lillebaek

doi:10.3201/eid3009.240095

Clinical Significance, Species Distribution, and Temporal Trends of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria, Denmark, 1991–2022

Victor Naestholt Dahl^*
, Andreas Arnholdt Pedersen
, Anders Norman
, E. Michael Rasmussen
, Jakko van Ingen
, Aase Bengaard Andersen
, Christian Morberg Wejse
, Troels Lillebaek

^*Corresponding author for this work

Global Health Section

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are emerging as notable causative agents of opportunistic infections. To examine clinical significance, species distribution, and temporal trends of NTM in Denmark, we performed a nationwide register-based study of all unique persons with NTM isolated in the country during 1991–2022. We categorized patients as having definite disease, possible disease, or isolation by using a previously validated method. The incidence of pulmonary NTM increased throughout the study period, in contrast to earlier findings. Mycobacterium malmoense, M. kansasii, M. szulgai, and M. avium complex were the most clinically significant species based on microbiologic findings; M. avium dominated in incidence. This study shows the need for surveillance for an emerging infection that is not notifiable in most countries, provides evidence to support clinical decision-making, and highlights the importance of not considering NTM as a single entity.

Original language	English
Journal	Emerging Infectious Diseases
Volume	30
Issue number	9
Pages (from-to)	1755-1762
Number of pages	8
ISSN	1080-6040
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3009.240095
Publication status	Published - 2024

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study, performed as part of a PhD project, has been funded by a 2024 grant from the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (to V.N.D.). In addition, V.N.D. received funding from the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Fonden af 17-12-1981, Skibsreder Per Henriksen, R. og hustrus fond, Health Research Foundation of Central Denmark Region, Christian Larsen og dommer Ellen Larsens Legat, Helga og Peter Kornings Fond, Beckett Foundation, the A.P. Moller Foundation (Fonden for L\u00E6gevidenskabens Fremme) and Denmark\u2019s Ministry of Higher Education and Science (Elite Research Travel Grant, 2023). The funders of the study had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All rights reserved.

Funding

This study, performed as part of a PhD project, has been funded by a 2024 grant from the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (to V.N.D.). In addition, V.N.D. received funding from the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Fonden af 17-12-1981, Skibsreder Per Henriksen, R. og hustrus fond, Health Research Foundation of Central Denmark Region, Christian Larsen og dommer Ellen Larsens Legat, Helga og Peter Kornings Fond, Beckett Foundation, the A.P. Moller Foundation (Fonden for L\u00E6gevidenskabens Fremme) and Denmark\u2019s Ministry of Higher Education and Science (Elite Research Travel Grant, 2023). The funders of the study had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report.

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10.3201/eid3009.240095

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11346989/pdf/24-0095.pdfLicence: Other

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Cite this

@article{56beeff0b6144586bdedb24f72d8e945,

title = "Clinical Significance, Species Distribution, and Temporal Trends of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria, Denmark, 1991{\textendash}2022",

abstract = "Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are emerging as notable causative agents of opportunistic infections. To examine clinical significance, species distribution, and temporal trends of NTM in Denmark, we performed a nationwide register-based study of all unique persons with NTM isolated in the country during 1991{\textendash}2022. We categorized patients as having definite disease, possible disease, or isolation by using a previously validated method. The incidence of pulmonary NTM increased throughout the study period, in contrast to earlier findings. Mycobacterium malmoense, M. kansasii, M. szulgai, and M. avium complex were the most clinically significant species based on microbiologic findings; M. avium dominated in incidence. This study shows the need for surveillance for an emerging infection that is not notifiable in most countries, provides evidence to support clinical decision-making, and highlights the importance of not considering NTM as a single entity.",

author = "Dahl, \{Victor Naestholt\} and Pedersen, \{Andreas Arnholdt\} and Anders Norman and Rasmussen, \{E. Michael\} and \{van Ingen\}, Jakko and Andersen, \{Aase Bengaard\} and Wejse, \{Christian Morberg\} and Troels Lillebaek",

note = "Funding Information: This study, performed as part of a PhD project, has been funded by a 2024 grant from the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (to V.N.D.). In addition, V.N.D. received funding from the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Fonden af 17-12-1981, Skibsreder Per Henriksen, R. og hustrus fond, Health Research Foundation of Central Denmark Region, Christian Larsen og dommer Ellen Larsens Legat, Helga og Peter Kornings Fond, Beckett Foundation, the A.P. Moller Foundation (Fonden for L\textbackslash{}u00E6gevidenskabens Fremme) and Denmark\textbackslash{}u2019s Ministry of Higher Education and Science (Elite Research Travel Grant, 2023). The funders of the study had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All rights reserved.",

year = "2024",

doi = "10.3201/eid3009.240095",

language = "English",

volume = "30",

pages = "1755--1762",

journal = "Emerging Infectious Diseases",

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T1 - Clinical Significance, Species Distribution, and Temporal Trends of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria, Denmark, 1991–2022

AU - Dahl, Victor Naestholt

AU - Pedersen, Andreas Arnholdt

AU - Norman, Anders

AU - Rasmussen, E. Michael

AU - van Ingen, Jakko

AU - Andersen, Aase Bengaard

AU - Wejse, Christian Morberg

AU - Lillebaek, Troels

N1 - Funding Information: This study, performed as part of a PhD project, has been funded by a 2024 grant from the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (to V.N.D.). In addition, V.N.D. received funding from the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Fonden af 17-12-1981, Skibsreder Per Henriksen, R. og hustrus fond, Health Research Foundation of Central Denmark Region, Christian Larsen og dommer Ellen Larsens Legat, Helga og Peter Kornings Fond, Beckett Foundation, the A.P. Moller Foundation (Fonden for L\u00E6gevidenskabens Fremme) and Denmark\u2019s Ministry of Higher Education and Science (Elite Research Travel Grant, 2023). The funders of the study had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All rights reserved.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are emerging as notable causative agents of opportunistic infections. To examine clinical significance, species distribution, and temporal trends of NTM in Denmark, we performed a nationwide register-based study of all unique persons with NTM isolated in the country during 1991–2022. We categorized patients as having definite disease, possible disease, or isolation by using a previously validated method. The incidence of pulmonary NTM increased throughout the study period, in contrast to earlier findings. Mycobacterium malmoense, M. kansasii, M. szulgai, and M. avium complex were the most clinically significant species based on microbiologic findings; M. avium dominated in incidence. This study shows the need for surveillance for an emerging infection that is not notifiable in most countries, provides evidence to support clinical decision-making, and highlights the importance of not considering NTM as a single entity.

AB - Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are emerging as notable causative agents of opportunistic infections. To examine clinical significance, species distribution, and temporal trends of NTM in Denmark, we performed a nationwide register-based study of all unique persons with NTM isolated in the country during 1991–2022. We categorized patients as having definite disease, possible disease, or isolation by using a previously validated method. The incidence of pulmonary NTM increased throughout the study period, in contrast to earlier findings. Mycobacterium malmoense, M. kansasii, M. szulgai, and M. avium complex were the most clinically significant species based on microbiologic findings; M. avium dominated in incidence. This study shows the need for surveillance for an emerging infection that is not notifiable in most countries, provides evidence to support clinical decision-making, and highlights the importance of not considering NTM as a single entity.

U2 - 10.3201/eid3009.240095

DO - 10.3201/eid3009.240095

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39173666

AN - SCOPUS:85201999936

SN - 1080-6040

VL - 30

SP - 1755

EP - 1762

JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases

JF - Emerging Infectious Diseases

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