Nontuberculous mycobacteria and bronchiectasis

Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease is an emerging multidisciplinary problem during the last decades, despite the lack of epidemiological data in most countries, including the Republic of Moldova. An increasing interest has been observed in evaluating nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in patients with bronchiectasis, although the dilemma of which of these diseases comes first remains unresolved. This paper reviews several aspects of the correlations between NTM and bronchiectasis including pathogenesis, radiological features, diagnosis and management, emphasizing the necessity for clinicians to have sufficient familiarity of the mycobacteria types to provide optimal patient management