Rationale
Despite the rising importance of Mycobacterium abscessus complex pulmonary disease, robust analyses of its prognosis and predictors remain limited.
Objectives
We aimed to determine the progression rate, treatment outcomes, mortality rate, ...
Rationale
Despite the rising importance of Mycobacterium abscessus complex pulmonary disease, robust analyses of its prognosis and predictors remain limited.
Objectives
We aimed to determine the progression rate, treatment outcomes, mortality rate, and the prognostic factors in patients with M. abscessus complex pulmonary disease.
Methods
Adult patients diagnosed with M. abscessus complex pulmonary disease at a referral center in South Korea between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2023 were included. Clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and radiographic features were collected. Progression rates, treatment outcomes, all-cause mortality, and their predictors were analyzed. We evaluated the prognostic value of the BACES score in predicting clinical outcomes.
Measurements and Main Results
421 patients diagnosed with M. abscessus complex pulmonary disease (M. abscessus subspecies abscessus [n=248] and M. abscessus subspecies massiliense [n=173]) were included. Over a median follow-up period of 4.4 years, 203 patients (48.2%) experienced progression. Among the 135 patients treated with guideline-based therapy, 72 (53.3%) achieved microbiological cure. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 88.8% and 70.8%, respectively. The BACES scores were associated with progression and survival. Clarithromycin resistance, including inducible resistance, was a major predictor of failure to achieve microbiological cure (adjusted odds ratio, 0.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.036–0.205) and of increased mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.202; 95% CI, 1.324–13.336).
Conclusion
Approximately half of patients with M. abscessus complex pulmonary disease experienced progression, and over half of the treated patients achieved microbiological cure. The BACES score and clarithromycin resistance could serve as reliable predictors of clinical prognosis.