A cluster of Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus), a difficult-to-treat bacteria that causes lung damage, particularly in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), was identified in the southeastern Florida, a recent study reported.
According to its findings, patients who tested positive for a nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection, including M. abscessus, were more likely to be living in areas with a higher average annual rainfall and increased levels of sodium in the soil.
The research, “Environmental predictors of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) sputum positivity among persons with cystic fibrosis in the state of Florida,” was published in the journal PLOS ONE.
NTM infections can cause NTM lung disease, which damages the lung tissue and is resistant to treatment. Among the several types of NTM, M. abscessus and Mycobacterium avium (M. avium Complex or MAC) are the most commonly found in CF patients.
Since nontuberculous mycobacteria are naturally found in soil, water, and dust, several studies previously attempted to analyze the relationship between environmental factors, such as soil properties, and NTM infections.
Researchers have pinpointed several regions in the United States where NTM infections are most common. Florida, with the highest prevalence of such infections, is at the top of this list. In this state, the five-year NTM prevalence, defined as the number of people who had an NTM infection within the previous five years, was 31% from 2010 through...
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