Longitudinal non-cystic fibrosis trends of pulmonary Mycobacterium abscessus disease from 2010 to 2017: spread of the "globally successful clone" in Asia

Mycobacterium abscessus (MAB) has emerged as the predominant pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial pathogen in parts of Asia, including Taiwan. The reasons for the significant increase in MAB infections in the non-cystic fibrosis (CF) populations are poorly understood. The study aimed to elucidate whether this increase is related to the spread of the globally successful clone of MAB.