Lung Diseases due to Nontuberculous Mycobacteria: Report of 5 Cases

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are commonly isolated from environmental sources such as water and soil. Lung disease due to NTM commonly occurs in structural lung disease. Here, we report five cases of NTM. We identified two cases of Mycobacterium abscessus, one of M. chelonae, one of M. gordoneae, and one of M. szulgai by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). One of the patients with M. abscessus, despite aggressive treatment, died, whereas the other was alive and had no clinical and radiological progression without treatment. Without treatment, the progression of disease was not seen in the case of M. chelonae and that of M. gordoneae. Clinicoradiological regression occurred in the case of M. szulgai that was treated with HRZE. For correct diagnosis and the successful treatment of NTM pulmonary disease, knowledge of clinical, radiological, and microbiological findings is important.