Scottish Non Tuberculous Mycobacteria in Humans - a 15 Year Cohort

该项目是关于苏格兰的非结核分枝杆菌(NTM)。我们将使用位于爱丁堡的苏格兰分枝杆菌参考实验室数据库，该数据库拥有15年来4100个非结核分枝杆菌阳性样本，并与临床和流行病学数据相联系。与结核分枝杆菌是一种应报告的疾病不同，国际上缺乏关于非结核分枝杆菌(NTM)导致的流行病学、发病率和死亡率的数据。NTM生活在环境中，但在免疫能力和免疫功能受损的儿童和成人中都会导致人类疾病。它们可以影响以前健康的人，但更常见的是影响合并疾病的患者。非结核杆菌可在肺部引起与结核杆菌相同的疾病。这项研究的目的如下：-评估苏格兰自20世纪90年代末以来15年内非结核杆菌的流行病学。-评估NTM在苏格兰的地理分布，因为我们有可用的邮政编码数据。-评估NTM分离株、治疗方法和结果的临床意义。-创建苏格兰NTM数据库。-培养研究道德、良好临床实践、统计学、流行病学和数据管理方面的专门知识。-出席地方、国家和国际会议。-在一份享有盛誉的同行评议期刊上发表研究成果。

This project is on Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) in Scotland. We will be using the Scottish Mycobacterial Reference Laboratory database, in Edinburgh, which has 4100 positives samples of NTM over 15 years and linking with clinical and epidemiological data.Unlike Mycobacterium tuberculosis which is a notifiable disease, there is a paucity of data about the epidemiology, morbidity and mortality caused by non tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) internationally. NTM live in the environment but cause human illness in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised children and adults. They can affect previously healthy individuals but more commonly affect patients with co-morbidities. NTMs can cause disease in the lungs identical to that caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Aim of this study are as follows:-Evaluate the epidemiology of NTM in Scotland over a 15 year period from late 1990s. -Assess the geographic distribution of NTM in Scotland as we have postcode data available. -Assess the clinical significance of NTM isolates, treatment and outcomes.-To create a Scottish NTM database. -To develop expertise in research ethics, Good Clinical Practice, statistics, epidemiology and data management. -To present at local, national and international meetings. -To publish the research findings in a prestigious peer reviewed journal.