Table 4.
Comparison of clinical characteristics between slowly growing mycobacteria and rapidly growing mycobacteria.
| Univariate Analysis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Slowly Growing NTM (N = 29) | Rapidly Growing NTM (N = 37) | p Value | |
| Age (years) | 58.17 ± 15.36 | 51.84 ± 15.59 | 0.104 |
| Female sex, n (%) | 11 (37.9) | 30 (81.1) | <0.001 |
| Isolated sites, n (%) | <0.001 a | ||
| Skin and soft tissue | 2 (6.9) | 26 (70.3) | |
| Bone and joint infection | 18 (62.1) | 8 (21.6) | |
| Others | 9 (31.0) | 3 (8.1) | |
| Comorbidities, n (%) | |||
| Diabetes mellitus | 6 (20.7) | 11 (29.7) | 0.580 |
| Solid organ cancer | 1 (3.4) | 2 (5.4) | >0.999 |
| Hematologic malignancy | 1 (3.4) | 2 (5.4) | >0.999 |
| History of tuberculosis | 3 (10.3) | 2 (5.4) | 0.647 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 2 (6.9) | 4 (10.8) | 0.688 |
| Chronic liver disease | 1 (3.4) | 1 (2.7) | >0.999 |
| Connective tissue disease | 1 (3.4) | 3 (8.1) | 0.625 |
| Immunosuppressive treatment | 3 (10.3) | 7 (18.9) | 0.493 |
| Antibiotics within 30 days | 9 (31.0) | 19 (51.4) | 0.160 |
| Predisposing factors, n (%) | 0.480 a | ||
| History of acupuncture | 1 (3.4) | 3 (8.1) | |
| Local injection | 4 (13.8) | 10 (27.0) | |
| Any surgery | 5 (17.2) | 9 (24.3) | |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 3 (10.3) | 1 (2.7) | |
| Plastic surgery | 0 (0.0) | 3 (8.1) | |
| Other surgery | 2 (6.9) | 5 (13.5) | |
| Trauma | 2 (6.9) | 2 (5.4) | |
| Indwelling catheter | 0 (0.0) | 2 (5.4) | |
| Laboratory findings | |||
| ESR (mm/h) | 41.0 (11.5–64.0) | 32.0 (22–60) | 0.692 |
| CRP (mg/L) | 10.0 (3.4–40.9) | 12.4 (1.8–59.8) | 0.913 |
| IGRA positivity, n (%) | 3/7 (42.9) | 4/9 (44.4) | >0.999 |
| Treatment | |||
| Surgical treatment, n (%) | 17 (58.6) | 23 (62.2) | 0.770 |
| Duration of medical treatment (months) | 12.0 (6.0–14.8) | 9.0 (6.0–13.5) | 0.683 |
| Treatment outcomes, n (%) | |||
| Cured | 22 (75.9) | 27 (73) | 0.790 |
| Died | 1 (3.4) | 2 (5.4) | 1.000 |
| Loss to follow up | 6 (20.7) | 8 (21.6) | 0.927 |
a Bonferroni adjusted p value via post hoc test. NTM: nontuberculous mycobacteria; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; IGRA: interferon gamma release assay. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range) or number (%) of patients.