Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in a Brazilian pediatric population: a seven-year survey

• Published in: Pathogens and global health Vol. 114; no. 2; pp. 104 - 108
• Main Authors: Mauch, Renan M., Mansinho, Andrea A.S., Rocha, Priscilla M.O., Zaccariotto, Tânia R., Levy, Carlos E., Nolasco da Silva, Marcos T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 17.02.2020
• Subjects: Adolescent; BCG; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; children and adolescents; epidemiology; Female; Humans; Male; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - epidemiology; Nontuberculous mycobacteria; opportunistic infection; Population Surveillance; Young Adult; Brazil; children and adolescents; epidemiology; opportunistic infection; BCG; Nontuberculous mycobacteria
• ISSN: 2047-7724; 2047-7732
• DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2020.1725330

The aim of this study was to describe the frequency of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolation and their related outcomes among pediatric patients of a Brazilian university hospital from 2012 to 2019. NTM were identified in different clinical samples by microbiological culture and molecular-based methods. NTM were isolated from 14 patients, out of whom four (27%) were infected and were treated accordingly. Two were infected with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), two with M. abscessus complex (MABSC) and one with M. intracellulare. Two patients had cystic fibrosis-related lung disease and improved after successful NTM eradication. One patient was HIV-positive and died. One patient had severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)-related pneumonia and is currently being followed-up. We conclude that NTM frequency in our center was low among pediatric patients. Whether this is inherent to Brazilian patients, due to the broad coverage of the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine in Brazil, or a result of underdiagnosis remains to be elucidated.