title: Management of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection in the elderly.
abstract: The incidence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has increased over the last decades. Elderly people are more susceptible to NTM and experience increased morbidities. NTM incidence is expected to rise due to an increasing elderly population at least up to 2050. Given the importance of NTM infection in the elderly, an increasing interest exists in studying NTM characteristics in the aged population. In this review, we summarize the characteristics of NTM infection among elderly patients. We focus on epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment options of NTM in this age group. We highlight the differences in the diagnosis and treatment between rapid and slow growing mycobacterial infections. The current recommendation for treatment of NTM is discussed. We debate if in vitro susceptibility testing has a role in the treatment of NTM. Drug-drug interaction between antibiotics used to treat NTM and other medications, particularly warfarin, is another important issue that we discuss. Finally, we review the prognosis of NTM disease in elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy, Department of Medicine M/C 719, University of IL at Chicago, USA. Electronic address: mmirsae@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirsaeidi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Maham
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farshidpour
authors.affiliation: Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy, Department of Medicine M/C 719, University of IL at Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Golnaz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, University of Milan Bicocca, Clinica Pneumologica, AO San Gerardo, Via Pergolesi 33, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aliberti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, University of Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Falkinham
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Elderly; NTM; Nontuberculous mycobacterium; Treatment