Predictors of death at isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria in respiratory specimens

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly isolated from respiratory cultures, but distinguishing true pulmonary disease from colonization remains challenging. This study evaluates whether meeting ATS/IDSA diagnostic criteria for NTM pulmonary disease is associated with mortality and identifies factors that may modify this risk in adults (≥18 years) with NTM-positive respiratory specimens collected during 2005–2006.