Exploring the Association of Bacterial Coinfections with Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND

Clinical data for bacterial coinfection of the lower respiratory tract in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) are scarce. This study aims to assess the prevalence of bacterial coinfection and clinical features in NTM-PD patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study screened 248 patients with NTM-PD who underwent bronchoscopy between July 2020 and July 2022, from whom newly diagnosed NTM-PD patients were analyzed. Bacterial culture using bronchial washing fluid was performed at the time of NTM-PD diagnosis.

RESULTS

In the 180 patients (median age 65 years; 68% female), Mycobacterium avium complex (86%) was the most frequent NTM isolated. Bacterial coinfections were detected in 80 (44%) patients. Among them, the most common bacterium was Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=25/80, 31.3%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=20/80, 25%) and Staphylococcus aureus (n=20/80, 25%). Compared with NTM-PD patients without bacterial coinfections, patients with bacterial coinfections showed more frequent extensive lung involvement (33% vs. 1%, p<0.001). Additionally, compared with NTM-PD patients without P. aeruginosa infection, those with P. aeruginosa infection were older (74 years vs. 64 years, p=0.001), had more frequent respiratory symptoms (cough/excessive mucus production 70% vs. 38%, p=0.008; dyspnea 30% vs. 13%, p=0.047), and had extensive lung involvement (60% vs. 9%, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Less than half of patients with newly diagnosed NTM-PD had bacterial coinfections, linked to extensive lung involvement. Specifically, P. aeruginosa coinfection was significantly associated with older age, more frequent respiratory symptoms, and extensive lung involvement.