Nontuberculous mycobacterial infection of the lung in a chest hospital in Thailand.

In a continuing study on the occurrence of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease by screening sputum cultures and from clinical judgement, from 1979 to 1987, a second series of 42 patients were suspected of having pulmonary infection caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria. As identified by the WHO Collaborating Center for Mycobacteria in Prague, Mycobacterium avium complex was isolated from the greatest number of patients (21 or 50%); M. scrofulaceum from seven; M. kansasii from six, and M. gorgonae from four. The remaining four patients yielded one strain each of M. fortuitum, M. asiaticum, M. szulgai, and one with suspected M. simiae. However, clinical significance was confirmed in only 30 patients, 20 of whom had M. avium complex; three had M. scrofulaceum; three had M. kansasii, and one each had M. gordonae, M. asiaticum, M. szulgai, and suspected M. simiae. Retrospective analysis revealed that 24 of the 30 patients had pre-existing disease, including 20 who had tuberculosis. Blood examinations of 10 patients recalled so far proved negative for HIV infection. Diseases caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria is still rare in Thailand.