Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

A biomarker cohort study design is proposed to study whether specific airway microbiota alterations are associated with pulmonary Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease. In a cohort of 200 subjects suspected of having pulmonary NTM disease, the investigators will evaluate the airway microbiome using an aliquot of the induced sputum and upper airway samples. Since induced sputum may reflect different regions of the upper/lower airways, the investigators will evaluate the upper and lower airway microbiome in a subgroup (case-control group) of patients using samples obtained through upper airway sampling and bronchoscopy, respectively.