BACKGROUNDNon-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have emerged as important opportunistic pathogens of the human being in recent years. Patients with pre-existing bronchiectasis are susceptible to NTM. However, information about its occurrence among bronchiectatic patients in Shenzhen, China is lacking and its impact on the course of bronchiectasis following surgical intervention is unknown. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the prevalence of NTM in bronchiectasis that required surgery in our center, evaluate the role of intraoperative routine screening for NTM, and summarize our initial experience in thoracoscopic management for bronchiectatic patients with NTM.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of clinical, microbiological data of our bronchiectatic patients with NTM over 5 years was made and 40 patients with bronchiectasis were studied to determine the role of intraoperative routine screening for NTM.

RESULTSThe prevalence of NTM in this population of patients with bronchiectasis in our center was 6.7% (7/105). The diagnostic yield of the 40 intraoperative specimens was 7.5% (3/40). Of the 7 patients with bronchiectasis and NTM, 3 patients developed postoperative wound infections. All were cured with chemotherapy for 8 - 12 months along with vigorous surgical debridement. Another patient had a slow growth of mycobacteria involving double lungs and the right thoracic cavity and recovered after chemotherapy for nearly 14 months and tube drainage. The affected tissue was completely resected in the remaining 3 patients with no operative mortality and postoperative morbidity, and routine intraoperative screening for NTM was initiated in these patients.

CONCLUSIONSNTM is not uncommon in bronchiectatic patients which deserves surgeons' utmost attention. Routine intraoperative screening for NTM identified otherwise unsuspected patients has shown favorable outcomes. Thoracoscopic management for bronchiectasis with NTM is technically feasible although its role remains to be defined.