Global trends of pulmonary infections with nontuberculous mycobacteria: a systematic review

To describe the global trends of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection and disease.

A systematic review of studies including culture-based NTM data over time. Studies reporting on pulmonary NTM infection and/or disease were included. Information on the use of guideline-based criteria for disease were collected, in which, infection is defined as the absence of symptoms and radiological findings compatible with NTM pulmonary disease. The trends of change for incidence/prevalence were evaluated using linear regressions, and the corresponding pooled estimates were calculated.