Pulmonary symptoms + Radiographic findings that include:
-Nodular or cavitary opacities on chest radiograph.
OR
- Multifocal bronchiectasis with multiple small nodules on HRCT chest.
AND
Appropriate exclusion of other diagnoses.
Clinical
and Radiographic features
-Positive results of culture from at least two separate sputum specimen.
OR
-Positive result of culture from at least one bronchial wash or lavage.
- Mycobacterial histopathologic features (granulomatous inflammation or AFB) from transbronchial or other lung biopsy and positive culture for NTM.
OR
-Mycobacterial histopathologic features (granulomatous inflammation or AFB) on Biopsy and one or more positive sputum or bronchial washings for NTM.
Microbiologic
Abbreviations: ATS: American Thoracic Society; ERS: European Respiratory Society; HRCT: High Resolution Computed Tomography; AFB: Acid Fast Bacilli.
Table 2: ATS/ERS criteria for pulmonary NTM diagnosis