Non-tuberculosis mycobacterias: microbiological aspects and clinical involvement profile of patients in a University Hospital in the city of Campinas-SP

• Grant number: 17/11248-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2018
• End date: February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Mônica Corso Pereira
• Grantee: Nathalia Fernanda Nora Santos
• Host Institution: Hospital de Clínicas (HC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The frequency of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) infections outpaces TB infections in developed countries and in the last decades the isolation of these pathogens has been increasing. Although infection can occur in almost any organ, lungs are the site most involved. M. avium, M. kansasii and M. abscessus are the most frequently identified organisms causing lung disease. These pathogens can be found in soil and water, and although the specific source of infection generally cannot be identified, human disease is suspected to be acquired from environmental exposures. Isolation of an NTM organism does not necessarily means active infection. Clinical, radiological and microbiological parameters are required to establish the diagnosis of infection. However, although infections are becoming increasingly common in clinical practice, there remain significant shortcomings in our knowledge about epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aspects on these microorganisms. The objective of this research is to identify the clinical profile of patients with NTM isolates in a tertiary hospital (HC-Unicamp). Also we intend to recognize clinical and radiological features in patients with NTM pulmonary disease, as well as the treatment applied. This is a systematic retrospective observational study to be performed in Pulmonology and Microbiology Units of the Clinics Hospital of the State University of Campinas (HC-UNICAMP). All medical files of the patients with NTM isolates between 2012 to 2016 will be reviewed, and data on clinical features (patients) as well as NTM features will be recorded. Radiological exams of patients with NTM pulmonary disease will be analyzed. Increasing knowledge about the spectrum of clinical presentation of NTM infection / disease may help to improve the therapeutic management of patients with these conditions. (AU)