title: Microbiological diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.
abstract: Pulmonary disease is by far the most frequent disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). To diagnose NTM pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), patients should have symptoms and radiologic signs suggestive of NTM-PD, and cultures of multiple respiratory tract samples must grow the same NTM species. Thus, the microbiological laboratory has a central role in the diagnosis of NTM-PD. This review summarizes currently available data on techniques involved in the microbiological diagnosis of NTM-PD, and aims to provide a framework for optimal microbiological diagnosis.
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology (777), Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: jakko.vaningen@radboudumc.nl.
authors: Jakko
authors: J
authors: van Ingen
mesh_terms: D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010808:Physical Examination
keywords: Diagnosis; Microbiology; Nontuberculous mycobacteria; Pulmonary disease