LAUSR

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are usually classified based on the time to colony formation in subculture: rapidlygrowing mycobacteria (RGM) (<7 days), and slowly-growing mycobacteria (SGM) (≥7 days). Clinical patterns of disease may vary -lung infection in patients with structural disease is mostly caused by SGM, although RGM may display a similar clinical and radiological presentation. The pattern of disseminated disease is also somewhat different: RGM usually spread from a contaminated source with direct inoculation, most commonly manifesting as skin and soft tissue infection. Conversely, SGM typically affect severely immunocompromised patients, mostly affecting deep lymph nodes, liver and spleen. Our main goal was to identify relevant features associated with an increased risk of either RGM or SGM infection.