Table 1 Summary of the ATS/IDSA diagnostic criteria for pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection, adapted from8.

From: Clinical relevance of non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated from respiratory specimens: seven year experience in a UK hospital

Clinical

•   Pulmonary symptoms AND

•   Appropriate exclusion of other diagnoses

Microbiological

•   Positive culture results from at least two separate expectorated sputum samples OR

•   Positive culture results from at least one bronchial wash or lavage OR

•   Transbronchial or other lung biopsy with mycobacterial histopathological features and positive culture for NTM OR biopsy showing mycobacterial histopathological features and one or more sputum or bronchial washings that are culture positive for NTM

Radiological

•   Nodular or cavitatory opacities on chest radiograph OR

•   A thoracic CT scan that shows multifocal bronchiectasis with multiple small nodules

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