*Purpose: Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the number of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections in the United States, especially in the state of Florida. We wanted to determine which NTM species specifically caused disease in our transplant population seen at University of Florida Health (UFH).

*Methods: At UFH for the past three years, there have been an increase in the total number of NTM cases. We determined the number of NTM infections within our institution from 2017 through 2019 by conducting a retrospective chart review. The total number of NTM infections, and specific cohorts of NTM infections occurring within hematopoietic (BMT) and solid organ (SOT) transplant populations were noted.

*Results: From 2017-2019, there were a total of 391 NTM cases. There was a yearly increase in the total number of NTM transplant infections during our study period (2017: 11; 2018:14; 2019: 22). At the same time, there was an increase in the number of adult lung transplantations: 52 (2017), 66 (2018) and 90 (2019). There were 47 cases of NTM (12.0%) identified in the transplant population overall. Of these there were 37 in the lung transplant population (78.7%). Predominant NTM in the lung recipients were Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium abscessus complex. Interestingly, there four cases of Mycobacterium porcinium, an emerging pathogen in immunocompromised patients (Table #1).

*Conclusions: These results are in accordance with the national trend of increasing NTM infections in both general population and transplant patients, especially lung recipients. As more NTM epidemiology is identified, risk factors could be defined and targeted interventions could be developed to prevent NTM infection in these populations.

« Back to 2020 American Transplant Congress