Recent Advances in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)—2nd Edition

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Bacterial Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 2781

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, Płocka 26, 01-138 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: clinical microbiology; genotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains; TB transmission; Mycobacterium drug resistance
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E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, Płocka 26, 01-138 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: clinical microbiology; microbiological diagnostics of tuberculosis and mycobacteriosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) constitute a group of over 180 Mycobacterium species, with the exception of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and Mycobacterium leprae. NTM species can cause a variety of infections in humans and animals, including pneumonia, lung abscess, pleural infection, meningitis, lymphadenitis, and skin and soft tissue infection. Mycobacterioses are difficult to treat because the therapy is long, expensive, more toxic and prone to failure than tuberculosis treatment. Recently, a global increase in the number of infections caused by NTM bacilli has been recorded.

All NTM species are acid-fast; therefore, the staining of microscopic smears using fluorescence and the Ziehl–Neelsen method is not sufficient for species identification or distinguishing NTM from MTBC species. The proper diagnosis of mycobacteriosis is based on clinical features and microbiological tests, including culture, histopathology and molecular methods. Knowing the capabilities and limitations of laboratory testing is critical to making the right clinical decisions. Hence, among the most important tasks of modern microbiology laboratories are the diagnosis and species identification of NTM, while also distinguishing them from MTBC strains.

In this Special Issue, we will provide an overview of the current diagnostic options for suspected NTM infection.

Dr. Monika Kozińska
Prof. Dr. Ewa Augustynowicz-Kopeć
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • mycobacteriosis
  • identification
  • nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)
  • mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT)
  • epidemiology
  • Mycobacterium spp.
  • microbiological diagnostics

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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12 pages, 763 KB  
Article
Microbiological Quality and Presence of Clinically Relevant Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Purified Water from Vending Machines in Michoacan, Mexico
by Ricardo Jiovanni Soria-Herrera, Janet Karina Hernández-Ramón, Marco Esteban Álvarez-Pérez, Miriam Alejandra Pérez-Sandoval, Margarita Hernandez-Mixteco, Olga Lidia Valenzuela, Eliud Alfredo Garcia-Montalvo, Paola Castillo-Juárez, Sandra Rivera-Gutiérrez, Gilberto Cornejo-Estudillo, Moises León-Juárez, Addy Cecilia Helguera-Repetto, Victoria Campos-Peña, Ma. Guadalupe Zanella-Vargas, Graciela Castro-Escarpulli, Carlos Cortes-Penagos and Jorge Francisco Cerna-Cortés
Pathogens 2025, 14(9), 886; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090886 - 4 Sep 2025
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Abstract
In this study, 104 purified water samples were collected from vending machines in the three main cities of Michoacan, Mexico, to assess microbiological quality and the occurrence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes (DEP) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Aerobic mesophilic bacteria were detected in [...] Read more.
In this study, 104 purified water samples were collected from vending machines in the three main cities of Michoacan, Mexico, to assess microbiological quality and the occurrence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes (DEP) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Aerobic mesophilic bacteria were detected in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.95 to 3.71 log10 CFU/mL. A total of 62, 34, and 25 samples tested positive for total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and E. coli, respectively. Sixty-two samples exceeded Mexico’s official guideline. None of the 58 E. coli strains isolated from the 25 E. coli-positive samples belonged to DEP. NTM species were recovered from 47 samples, including M. mucogenicum (n = 18), M. abscessus (n = 11), M. chelonae (n = 7), M. porcinum (n = 3), M. fortuitum (n = 2), M. septicum (n = 1), M. phocaicum (n = 1), and M. brisbanense (n = 1). Three additional isolates could not be identified. All NTM strains produced biofilm and exhibited sliding motility. These findings highlight significant microbiological risks associated with vending machine water and underscore the need for manufacturers to ensure regular maintenance to provide safe and reliable purified water to consumers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)—2nd Edition)
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10 pages, 541 KB  
Article
Evaluation of the Standard M10 MTB/NTM Molecular Test for the Rapid Identification of Tuberculous and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Liquid Cultures
by Sara Caldrer, Alberta Carrara, Andrea Ragusa, Lavinia Nicolini, Elena Pomari, Cristina Mazzi, Fabio Formenti and Francesca Perandin
Pathogens 2025, 14(6), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14060517 - 22 May 2025
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Abstract
Since 2013, the World Health Organization has recommended the use of rapid molecular tests as the initial diagnostic step for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection to enhance the control of tuberculosis. In recent years, the prevalence of infections by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in humans [...] Read more.
Since 2013, the World Health Organization has recommended the use of rapid molecular tests as the initial diagnostic step for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection to enhance the control of tuberculosis. In recent years, the prevalence of infections by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in humans has also risen, particularly in countries with low tuberculosis incidence, such as Italy. Therefore, the rapid differentiation between NTM and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex is crucial for timely therapeutic decisions. This study evaluates a new rapid molecular assay, Standard M10 MTB/NTM, designed to detect MTB, NTM, or co-detection in Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube cultures from different biological matrices. The assay was validated using 100 positive and 50 negative liquid mycobacteria cultures, already confirmed by specific real-time PCR and Sanger sequencing. Following optimization of assay conditions for culture sample processing and assessment of potential interference, Standard M10 demonstrated excellent sample stability, high specificity, and good sensitivity, identifying all 50 MTB and 49 NTM samples. Some limitations included the non-detection of M. celatum in one case and false positive results (MTB co-infection) in two NTB cases. Nevertheless, overall, the adoption of this test could be considered for laboratory management to enable rapid and effective sample targeting for subsequent diagnostic evaluation and treatment decision-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)—2nd Edition)
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11 pages, 4051 KB  
Case Report
Mycobacterial Spindle Cell Pseudotumor Presenting as a Pancreatic Head Mass: A Case Report
by Frank A Cusimano, Tara Herrera, Douglas Brust, Elizabeth Montgomery, Sunil Amin and Folusakin Ayoade
Pathogens 2025, 14(9), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090889 - 5 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Mycobacterial spindle cell pseudotumors (MSCPs) are rare lesions characterized by the proliferation of spindle-shaped histiocytes caused by mycobacterial infections. MSCPs have been reported in the lung, lymphatic system, and skin of immunodeficient patients. We present the case of a spindle cell pseudotumor of [...] Read more.
Mycobacterial spindle cell pseudotumors (MSCPs) are rare lesions characterized by the proliferation of spindle-shaped histiocytes caused by mycobacterial infections. MSCPs have been reported in the lung, lymphatic system, and skin of immunodeficient patients. We present the case of a spindle cell pseudotumor of the pancreas in a 30-year-old male with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, which led to biliary stricture, splenomegaly, chronic pancreatitis, portal hypertension, compression of the hepatic artery and portal vein, and ascites. This was the patient’s third mycobacterial infection diagnosis. The MSCP was diagnosed via endoscopic biopsy after two prior non-diagnostic biopsies of the pancreatic lesion. Following 18 months of tailored antimycobacterial therapy, the pancreatic mass resolved radiographically with normalization of liver tests and sustained clinical improvement, and there has been no relapse more than 8 months after treatment completion. This case highlights the presentation of an MSCP in a unique anatomic location not previously documented and the challenges encountered with diagnosis and management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)—2nd Edition)
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