Table 2. Laboratory investigations.
| Characteristic, n (%) | Case (n = 70) | Control (n = 70) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Species of NTM | |||
| M. abscessus | 51 (72.9) | 29 (41.4) | < 0.001 |
| MAC | 8 (11.4) | 14 (20) | 0.164 |
| M. fortuitum | 7 (10) | 12 (17) | 0.217 |
| M. kansasii | 1 (1.4) | 6 (8.6) | 0.116 |
| M. simiae | 1 (1.4) | 2 (2.9) | 1.000 |
| M. haemophilum | 1 (1.4) | 1 (1.4) | 1.000 |
| M. scrofulaceum | 1 (1.4) | 0 | 0.493 |
| Others* | 0 | 3 (4.3) | |
| Unidentified | 3 (4.3) | 2 (2.9) | |
| Sites of positive C/S | |||
| Lymph node | 51 (72.9) | 3 (4.3) | < 0.001 |
| Blood or bone marrow | 23 (32.9) | 10 (14.3) | 0.010 |
| Sputum | 9 (12.9) | 26 (37.1) | 0.001 |
| Skin or pus | 6 (8.6) | 13 (18.6) | 0.084 |
| Pleural fluid | 1 (1.4) | 2 (2.1) | 1.000 |
| Synovial fluid | 1 (1.4) | 9 (12.9) | 0.009 |
| Lung tissue | 1 (1.4) | 2 (2.1) | 1.000 |
| Bowel | 1 (1.4) | 1 (1.4) | 1.000 |
| Cardiac valve | 1 (1.4) | 0 | 0.493 |
| Others** | 0 | 9 (12.9) | |
| Blood tests, median (min-max) | |||
| Hematocrit, % | 30.7 (13.5–44.6) | 36.2 (18.7–53.1) | 0.011 |
| White blood cell, /mm3 | 20,020 (721–56,680) | 7,365 (2,150–25,350) | < 0.001 |
| Total eosinophil, /mm3 | 802 (23–6,192) | 120 (0–1,039) | < 0.001 |
| Platelet, x100/mm3 | 377.5 (43–953) | 287.5 (50–543) | < 0.001 |
| ESR, mm/hr | 81 (5–123) | 43 (2.7–119) | 0.009 |
* M. marinum (2 patients), M. chelonae (1 patient)
** Other sites with positive culture included bone (3 patients), Stool (2 patients), vascular graft (1 patient), liver (1 patient) and eye (2 patient)