Pulmonary infection and colonization with nontuberculous mycobacteria, Taiwan, 2000-2012

We analyzed samples from 13,652 patients who had respiratory cultures positive for mycobacteria in Taiwan during 2000-2012 and found that 56.9% were positive for nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Whereas annual prevalence of tuberculosis decreased during the study period, prevalence of NTM disease and colonization increased, particularly among older patients and male patients.