Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Identified in Clinical Samples in the Geneva Area Over a Period 2015-2020

This study was performed in the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), a 2008-bed complex providing care for a population of ca. 500'000 inhabitants. All clinical samples sent for microbiological analysis within HUG are treated by the Bacteriology Laboratory of Geneva University Hospitals. An online database is kept up-to-date and includes all samples processed by the laboratory. The investigators performed a comprehensive analysis of all clinical samples included in this database over a 5-year period (2015-2020). This report focuses only on positive results for nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).The following items were recorded: age, gender, BMI whenever available, site of infection (when pulmonary: description of main radiological abnormalities), presence and type of immunosuppression, relevant pulmonary and non-pulmonary comorbidities, results of microscopy, and NTM species identified. The investigators also recorded whether the patient was treated for the identified NTM or not and if a susceptibility profile had been determined (this is not routinely performed and must be requested by the clinician).

The study protocol was approved by their local ethics committee