THE INCIDENCE of lung disease caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is increasing worldwide. NTM are ubiquitous organisms frequently isolated from environmental sources, including water and soil; isolation of NTM species from a respiratory sample is therefore insufficient evidence for the presence of NTM lung disease. In addition, cases of NTM lung disease are not reported to public health authorities in many countries, and formal epidemio-logical and surveillance data, particularly population-based data, are not readily available.
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