title: Chronic Mycobacterium abscessus infection and lung function decline in cystic fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are recognized pathogens in cystic fibrosis (CF), associations with clinical outcomes remain unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microbiological data was obtained from 1216 CF patients over 8years (481+/-55patients/year). Relationships to clinical outcomes were examined in the subset (n=271, 203+/-23 patients/year) with longitudinal data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred thirty-six of 4862 (11%) acid-fast bacilli (AFB) cultures grew NTM, with Mycobacterium abscessus (n=298, 55.6%) and Mycobacterium avium complex (n=190, 35.4%) most common. Associated bacterial cultures grew Stenotrophomonas or Aspergillus species more often when NTM were isolated (18.2% vs. 8.4% and 13.9% vs. 7.2%, respectively, p<0.01). After controlling for confounders, patients with chronic M. abscessus infection had greater rates of lung function decline than those with no NTM infection (-2.52 vs. -1.64% predicted FEV(1)/year, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NTM infection is common in CF and associated with particular pathogens. Chronic M. abscessus infection is associated with increased lung function decline.
authors.affiliation: Statistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Charles_Esther@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Esther
authors.forename: Denise A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Esserman
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gilligan
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Peadar G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Noone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D020588:Stenotrophomonas / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult