{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T12:08:22Z","timestamp":1789733302681,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2016,11,16]],"date-time":"2016-11-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1479254400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Chronic airway infection is a key aspect of the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis. A growing interest has been raised on non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection. We aimed at describing the clinical characteristics, diagnostic process, therapeutic options and outcomes of bronchiectasis patients with pulmonary NTM (pNTM) disease. This was a prospective, observational study enrolling 261 adult bronchiectasis patients during the stable state at the San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy, from 2012 to 2015. Three groups were identified: pNTM disease; chronic P. aeruginosa infection; chronic infection due to bacteria other than P. aeruginosa. NTM were isolated in 32 (12%) patients, and among them, a diagnosis of pNTM disease was reached in 23 cases. When compared to chronic P. aeruginosa infection, patients with pNTM were more likely to have cylindrical bronchiectasis and a \u201ctree-in-bud\u201d pattern, a history of weight loss, a lower disease severity and a lower number of pulmonary exacerbations. Among pNTM patients who started treatment, 68% showed a radiological improvement, and 37% achieved culture conversion without recurrence, while 21% showed NTM isolation recurrence. NTM isolation seems to be a frequent event in bronchiectasis patients, and few parameters might help to suspect NTM infection. Treatment indications and monitoring still remain an important area for future research.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms17111913","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2016,11,16]],"date-time":"2016-11-16T16:23:04Z","timestamp":1479313384000},"page":"1913","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":80,"title":["Characterizing Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria Infection in Bronchiectasis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Paola","family":"Faverio","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento Cardio-Toraco-Vascolare, University of Milan Bicocca, Respiratory Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST di Monza, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anna","family":"Stainer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento Cardio-Toraco-Vascolare, University of Milan Bicocca, Respiratory Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST di Monza, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giulia","family":"Bonaiti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento Cardio-Toraco-Vascolare, University of Milan Bicocca, Respiratory Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST di Monza, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stefano","family":"Zucchetti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento Cardio-Toraco-Vascolare, University of Milan Bicocca, Respiratory Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST di Monza, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Edoardo","family":"Simonetta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento Cardio-Toraco-Vascolare, University of Milan Bicocca, Respiratory Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST di Monza, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giuseppe","family":"Lapadula","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST di Monza, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2603-1468","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Almerico","family":"Marruchella","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento Cardio-Toraco-Vascolare, University of Milan Bicocca, Respiratory Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST di Monza, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6587-4794","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Gori","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST di Monza, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2285-9970","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesco","family":"Blasi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Cardio-Thoracic Unit and Cystic Fibrosis Adult Center, Fondazione IRCCS C\u00e0 Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Luigi","family":"Codecasa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Villa Marelli Institute, Niguarda Ca\u2019 Granda Hospital, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alberto","family":"Pesci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento Cardio-Toraco-Vascolare, University of Milan Bicocca, Respiratory Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST di Monza, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"James","family":"Chalmers","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Scottish Centre for Respiratory Research, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Loebinger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Host Defence Unit, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK Imperial College London, London SW3 6NP, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0090-4531","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stefano","family":"Aliberti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Cardio-Thoracic Unit and Cystic Fibrosis Adult Center, Fondazione IRCCS C\u00e0 Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2016,11,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1586\/17476348.2014.896204","article-title":"Defining severity in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis","volume":"8","author":"Poppelwell","year":"2014","journal-title":"Expert. Rev. Respir. Med."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1446","DOI":"10.1183\/09031936.00119114","article-title":"Management of bronchiectasis in adults","volume":"45","author":"Chalmers","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. Respir. J."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1113","DOI":"10.1183\/13993003.01899-2015","article-title":"Clinical phenotypes in adult patients with bronchiectasis","volume":"47","author":"Aliberti","year":"2016","journal-title":"Eur. Respir. J."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"716","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rmed.2014.07.021","article-title":"Non cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: A longitudinal retrospective observational cohort study of Pseudomonas persistence and resistance","volume":"109","author":"McDonnell","year":"2015","journal-title":"Respir. Med."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"1602","article-title":"A comprehensive analysis of the impact of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization on prognosis in adult bronchiectasis","volume":"12","author":"Finch","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ann. Am. Thorac. Soc."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197950","DOI":"10.1155\/2015\/197950","article-title":"Nontuberculous mycobacteria in noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis","volume":"2015","author":"Bonaiti","year":"2015","journal-title":"BioMed Res. Int."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.5114\/aoms.2014.44857","article-title":"Prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria in patients with bronchiectasis: A meta-analysis","volume":"29","author":"Chu","year":"2014","journal-title":"Arch. Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"367","DOI":"10.1164\/rccm.200604-571ST","article-title":"An official ATS\/IDSA statement: Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases","volume":"175","author":"Griffith","year":"2007","journal-title":"Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med."},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"615","article-title":"Pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease showing middle lobe syndrome\u2014Pathological findings of 2 cases suggesting different mode of development","volume":"77","author":"Okumura","year":"2002","journal-title":"Kekkaku"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"632","DOI":"10.1183\/13993003.01888-2015","article-title":"Research priorities in bronchiectasis: A consensus statement from the EMBARC clinical research collaboration","volume":"48","author":"Aliberti","year":"2016","journal-title":"Eur. Respir. J."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"437","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-016-1774-x","article-title":"Prevalence and factors associated with nontuberculous mycobacteria in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: A multicenter observational study","volume":"16","author":"Olveira","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMC Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"127","article-title":"Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasias","volume":"212","author":"Prados","year":"2012","journal-title":"Rev. Cli\u0301n. Esp."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1204","DOI":"10.1183\/09031936.06.00149805","article-title":"Nontuberculous mycobacteria in bronchiectasis: Prevalence and patient characteristics","volume":"28","author":"Fowler","year":"2006","journal-title":"Eur. Respir. J."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1045","DOI":"10.1136\/thx.2005.046631","article-title":"Non-tuberculous mycobacteria in patients with bronchiectasis","volume":"60","author":"Wickremasinghe","year":"2005","journal-title":"Thorax"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1000","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijid.2013.03.018","article-title":"Non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease is common in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis","volume":"17","author":"Mirsaeidi","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"714","DOI":"10.1111\/resp.12287","article-title":"Mycobacterium avium complex infection in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis","volume":"19","author":"Zoumot","year":"2014","journal-title":"Respirology"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1136\/thx.2010.136119","article-title":"British thoracic society bronchiectasis non-CF guideline group. British thoracic society guideline for non-CF bronchiectasis","volume":"65","author":"Pasteur","year":"2010","journal-title":"Thorax"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"282","DOI":"10.1148\/radiol.2351040371","article-title":"Bilateral bronchiectasis and bronchiolitis at thin-section CT: Diagnostic implications in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary infection","volume":"235","author":"Koh","year":"2005","journal-title":"Radiology"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"276","DOI":"10.1378\/chest.13-2538","article-title":"Macrolide\/Azalide therapy for nodular\/bronchiectatic mycobacterium avium complex lung disease","volume":"146","author":"Wallace","year":"2014","journal-title":"Chest"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"566","DOI":"10.1378\/chest.126.2.566","article-title":"Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease in patients without HIV infection","volume":"126","author":"Field","year":"2004","journal-title":"Chest"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1007\/s10096-013-1962-1","article-title":"Treatment outcomes for Mycobacterium avium complex: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"33","author":"Xu","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0035-1546751","article-title":"Nontuberculous mycobacteria in cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis","volume":"36","author":"Park","year":"2015","journal-title":"Semin. Respir. Crit. Care Med."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1764","DOI":"10.1513\/AnnalsATS.201507-472OC","article-title":"Etiology of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in adults and its correlation to disease severity","volume":"12","author":"Lonni","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ann. Am. Thorac. Soc."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"576","DOI":"10.1164\/rccm.201309-1575OC","article-title":"The bronchiectasis severity index. An international derivation and validation study","volume":"189","author":"Chalmers","year":"2014","journal-title":"Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"McDonnell, M.J., Aliberti, S., Goeminne, P.C., Dimakou, K., Zucchetti, S.C., Davidson, J., Ward, C., Laffey, J.G., Finch, S., and Pesci, A. (2016). Multidimensional severity assessment in bronchiectasis: An analysis of seven European cohorts. Thorax.","DOI":"10.1183\/13993003.congress-2016.OA274"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1277","DOI":"10.1164\/ajrccm.162.4.9906120","article-title":"An investigation into causative factors in patients with bronchiectasis","volume":"162","author":"Pasteur","year":"2000","journal-title":"Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Molecular Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/17\/11\/1913\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T19:35:41Z","timestamp":1760211341000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/17\/11\/1913"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2016,11,16]]},"references-count":26,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2016,11]]}},"alternative-id":["ijms17111913"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijms17111913","relation":{},"ISSN":["1422-0067"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1422-0067","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2016,11,16]]}}}