ABSTRACT Objective To present the frequency and species diversity of
non-tuberculous mycobacteria, estimate the
prevalence of non-tuberculous mycobacterial
pulmonary disease, describe the
epidemiological profile, and determine the follow-up of
patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial
pulmonary disease living in a region with a high burden of
tuberculosis.
Methods This a retrospective cohort
observational study using data
records obtained from the Instituto Adolfo Lutz - Santos and from the São Paulo Sistema de Vigilância de Tuberculose do Estado de São Paulo in the period between 2000 and 2009. The studied variables were socio-demographic characteristics, current and past
history of
tuberculosis, aspects related to
diagnosis, and
treatment and associated
diseases. Results We included 319
non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolates in the study, corresponding to 257
patients. The species
Mycobacterium kansasii (28.5%) and
Mycobacterium fortuitum (16.6%) presented the higher occurrence. In 10.9% (24) of the
patients, there was a criterion for confirming a case of
pulmonary disease due to
non-tuberculous mycobacteria. In relation to
gender and age,
male and individuals over 50 years old were the most frequent. Considering the confirmed cases, 47.8% had a past
history of
tuberculosis. Conclusion The lack of information about the cases is evident, since
pulmonary disease due to
non-tuberculous mycobacteria is not mandatory. The
therapeutic regimen according to the identified species is fundamental for success in combating the
infections caused by
non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Besides that, information about the regional
epidemiology of
pulmonary disease caused by
non-tuberculous mycobacteria and the search for
associations with other comorbidities are important to establish the correct
treatment. In order to improve
surveillance of
pulmonary diseases by
non-tuberculous mycobacteria, we suggest the implantation of a
sentinel surveillance and of
population-based studies.