The epidemiology of atypical mycobacterial diseases in northern England: a space–time clustering and Generalized Linear Modelling approach

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 135; no. 5; pp. 765 - 774
• Main Authors: Rushton, S. P., Goodfellow, M., O'Donnell, A. G., Magee, J. G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.07.2007
• Subjects: Age groups; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Disease; Disease models; England - epidemiology; Epidemiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal diseases; Fungal infections; HIV; Households; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infections; Linear Models; Lung diseases; Microbiology; Modeling; Morbidity; Mycobacterium avium; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - epidemiology; Pathogens; Public health; Rain; Space-Time Clustering; Spacetime; Statistics; Time Factors; Tuberculosis; England; United Kingdom; Great Britain; Europe; United Kingdom > UK; Infection; Human; Mycobacterium; Mycobacteriales; Bacteriosis; Mycobacteriaceae; Bacteria; Actinomycetes; Atypical; Mycobacterial infection; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268806007424

The incidence of infection by mycobacteria, other than tubercle bacilli (MOTT) is increasing in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. These diseases increase morbidity and are an increasing public health concern. However, the epidemiology of disease due to these species is not well characterized. We used space–time clustering approaches and Generalized Linear Modelling to investigate the potential predictors of disease in cases of infection by organisms of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and M. malmoense recorded in the north of England during 2000–2005. There was significant spatial and temporal clustering in juvenile cases of infection by MAC but not for cases of infection in adults by either species. There were no significant predictors of infection by M. malmoense or juvenile cases of M. avium. Incidence of disease caused by M. avium in adults was significantly related to health deprivation and weakly related to rainfall. We consider possible reasons for the difference in epidemiology in infection by M. avium in adults and juveniles.