Table II.
Environmental niches of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)
| Types of sources | Sources | Commonly isolated NTM |
|---|---|---|
| Natural water sources | Streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and seawater | MAC, Mycobacterium fortuitum, M. chelonae, M. kansasii, M. gordonae, M. xenopi, M. marinum |
| Man-made water sources | Drinking water supply pipelines | MAC, M. kansasii, M. gordonae, M. xenopi, M. abscessus, M. fortuitum, M. chelonae, M. scrofulaceum, M. szulgai |
| Cold and hot water tanks | ||
| Hot tubs, indoor and outdoor pools | ||
| Household plumbing, showerheads and faucets | ||
| Hospital plumbing and water supply | ||
| Ice machines and commercial ice | ||
| Bottled drinking water | ||
| Aerosols | Showers, hot-tubs, humidifiers, indoor swimming pools, heater-cooler units in hospitals | MAC, M. kansasii, M. gordonae, M. abscessus |
| Other sources* | Natural soil dust, potting soil, peat moss and domestic dust | MAC, M. fortuitum, M. chelonae, M. kansasii |