Table 1. Baseline population characteristics of 49 patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial infection, the Netherlands, January 1999 through March 2005*.
| Characteristic | ATS+ (n = 25) | ATS– (n = 24) | Total (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | |||
| Male sex | 19 | 18 | 37 (76) |
| Mean age, y | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Dutch origin |
24 |
20 |
44 (90) |
| Concurrent and predisposing conditions | |||
| Pre-existing pulmonary disease | 21 | 18 | 39 (80) |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 17 | 14 | 31 (63) |
| Lung cancer | 1 | 3 | 4 (8) |
| Prior tuberculosis | 0 | 2 | 2 (4) |
| Recurrent pulmonary infection† | 5 | 2 | 7 (14) |
| Bronchiectasis | 2 | 4 | 6 (12) |
| Smoker, current/ past | 15/ 6 | 11/ 3 | 35 (71) |
| Alcohol abuse | 2 | 3 | 5 (10) |
| High-dose steroid use‡ | 3 | 5 | 8 (16) |
| HIV infection | 2 | 5 | 7 (14) |
| Mean CD4 count in HIV-infected patients, cells/mL | 226 | 126 | 159 |
| Hematologic malignancy | 0 | 1 | 1 (2) |
| Otherwise impaired immunity§ |
2 |
1 |
3 (6) |
| Signs and symptoms | |||
| Productive cough | 21 | 20 | 41 (84) |
| Hemoptysis | 5 | 4 | 9 (18) |
| Dyspnea | 14 | 9 | 23 (47) |
| Fever | 11 | 6 | 17 (35) |
| Weight loss | 12 | 7 | 19 (39) |
| Malaise |
16 |
10 |
26 (53) |
| Chest radiographic abnormalities | |||
| Infiltrate | 15 | 12 | 27 (55) |
| Cavity | 12¶ | 3 | 15 (31) |
| Pleural thickening | 3 | 4 | 7 (14) |
| Emphysema | 9 | 9 | 18 (37) |
| Space-occupying lesion | 1 | 3 | 4 (8) |
*ATS+, American Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria for nontuberculous mycobacterialinfection met; ATS–, ATS diagnostic criteria for nontuberculous mycobacterial infection not met. †>3 requiring treatment in 6 months before primary Mycobacteria xenopi culture. ‡>15 mg prednisone/day for >3 months before primary M. xenopi culture. §Diabetes mellitus, cisplatinum chemotherapy, anorexia nervosa (all n = 1). ¶Significant association (odds ratio 14.3, 95% confidence interval 2.7–75.6, p = 0.001).