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Volume 18, Number 10—October 2012
Research

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Household Plumbing as Possible Cause of Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Wellington S. Tichenor1Comments to Author , Jennifer Thurlow1, Steven McNulty, Barbara A. Brown-Elliott, Richard J. Wallace, and Joseph O. Falkinham
Author affiliations: The Center for Allergy, Asthma and Sinusitis, New York, New York, USA (W.S. Tichenor, J. Thurlow); New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York (W.S. Tichenor); University of Texas Health Science Center, Tyler, Texas, USA (S. NcNulty, B.A. Brown-Elliott, R.J. Wallace, Jr.); Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA (J.O. Falkinham III)

Main Article

Table 1

Characteristics of patients whose sinuses yielded NTM in study of NTM in household plumbing, New York, New York, USA, 2001–2011*

Characteristics Value
Total patients 33 (100)
Age range, y 25–74
Prior functional endoscopic sinus surgery 30 (91)
Nasal polyps 12 (36)
Primary immunodeficiency 10 (30)
HIV positive 0†
Cystic fibrosis carrier state 1 (20)‡
Diabetes 0
Repeat culture NTM negative 21 (64)
Repeat culture NTM positive 2 (6)
Repeat culture not performed or lost 10 (30)
Symptoms improved 14 (42)
Symptoms unchanged 6 (18)
Other persistent microorganism§ 1 (3)
Refused treatment 3 (9)
Currently treated 9 (27)

*Values are no. (%) patients except as indicated. NTM, nontuberculous mycobacteria.
†No patients were known to be HIV positive; 16 were tested.
‡No patients were known to have cystic fibrosis; 5 were tested.
§Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Main Article

1These authors contributed equally to this article.

Page created: September 14, 2012
Page updated: September 14, 2012
Page reviewed: September 14, 2012
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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