Epidemiology of infection by pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacteria in French Guiana 2008–2018

Abstract

Introduction Unlike diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. leprae and M. ulcerans, the epidemiology of pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacteria (PNTM) has not received due attention in French Guiana. The main objective of the current study was to define the incidence of these PNTM infections: NTM pulmonary diseases (NTM-PD) and casual PNTM isolation (responsible of latent infection or simple colonization). The secondary objectives were to determine species diversity and geographic distribution of these atypical mycobacteria. Methods A retrospective observational study (2008–2018) of French Guiana patients with at least one PNTM positive respiratory sample in culture was conducted. Patients were then classified into two groups: casual PNTM isolation or pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), according to clinical, radiological and microbiological criteria defined by the American Thoracic Society / Infectious Disease Society of America (ATS / IDSA) in 2007. Results 178 patients were included, out of which 147 had casual PNTM isolation and 31 had NTM-PD. Estimated annual incidence rate of respiratory isolates was 6.17 / 100,000 inhabitants per year while that of NTM-PD was 1.07 / 100,000 inhabitants per year. Among the 178 patients, M. avium complex (MAC) was the most frequently isolated pathogen (38%), followed by M. fortuitum then M. abscessus (19% and 6% of cases respectively), the latter two mycobacteria being mainly found in the coastal center region. Concerning NTM-PD, two species were mainly involved: MAC (81%) and M. abscessus (16%). Discussion/Conclusion This is the first study on the epidemiology of PNTM infections in French Guiana. PNTM’s incidence looks similar to other contries and metropolitan France and NTM-PD is mostly due to MAC and M.abscessus. Although French Guiana is the French territory with the highest tuberculosis incidence, NTM should not be overlooked.

Panorama des pathologies infectieuses et non infectieuses de Guyane en 2022

“…L’épidémiologie des infections à mycobactéries non tuberculeuses, dites atypiques, d'expression respiratoire (MBNTER) diffère en Guyane de celle de l'Hexagone. Ainsi, une étude portant sur les infections à MBNTER entre 2008 et 2018 a identifié 178 patients dont 147 étaient porteurs asymptomatiques et 31 présentaient des symptômes compatibles avec une infection active [ 58 ].…”

Variability of Mycobacterium avium Complex Isolates Drug Susceptibility Testing by Broth Microdilution

“…All other mycobacteria, called nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), are considered conditionally pathogenic to humans and capable of causing generalized disease under certain conditions, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Studies in North America, Europe, and Asia have shown an increased incidence of NTM in recent decades [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. The estimated prevalence of NTM increased from 2.4 cases per 100,000 in the early 1980s to 15.2 cases per 100,000 in 2013 in the United States [ 5 ], in Canada the incidence in 2010 was as high as 20–25 cases per 100,000 population [ 6 ].…”

“…In South Korea, NTM disease increased from 9.4 in 2009 to 36.1 in 2016 cases per 100,000 population [ 7 ]. The incidence of pulmonary disease caused by NTM ranged from 1.07 in French Guiana in 2018 [ 2 ] to 4.73 in 2015 in the USA [ 8 ]. The annual prevalence in the latter study was estimated to be 11.7 per 100,000 which is caused by the long duration of the disease.…”