[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/06\/difference-between-tb-and-ntm\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/06\/difference-between-tb-and-ntm\/","headline":"What Is the Difference Between TB and NTM?","name":"What Is the Difference Between TB and NTM?","description":"

Tuberculosis (TB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are related organisms, but they cause very different diseases.<\/p>","datePublished":"2024-06-18","dateModified":"2024-06-24","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-1147479249-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-1147479249-1.jpg","height":868,"width":1997},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/06\/difference-between-tb-and-ntm\/","about":["Family Health","Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":1377,"articleBody":"Tuberculosis (TB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are related organisms, but they cause very different diseases. TB is rare in the United States, but it is an important cause of disease worldwide. It\u2019s most often seen if someone has grown up in an area where TB is prevalent or if they have been exposed to someone with active TB.NTM are mycobacteria that live in the environment and don\u2019t usually make someone sick. But if someone has underlying medical problems, such as lung disease, or if they are on medications that can suppress their immune system, it can make them sick.The most common site of infection for both TB and NTM is the lungs, but only tuberculosis is contagious. It can spread from person to person when someone sick with TB coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. These actions release the TB bacteria into the air where others can breathe it.What Are Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)?More than 180 naturally occurring mycobacteria (a type of bacteria) in the environment can cause nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These bacteria live in soil, dust, plants, natural water sources (lakes and rivers), and tap-treated drinking water that we use to shower, cook, and drink. You can inhale the bacteria through the air or ingest it through water.We all come into contact with these bacteria, usually without getting sick. But they can infect people with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems.Differences Between Tuberculosis (TB) and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)Though TB and NTM both result from mycobacteria and have similar symptoms, there are some major differences between them.Differences between TB and NTM include:Cause.\u00a0One specific bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) causes TB, while many different strains of mycobacteria cause NTM infections. The most common are Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (also known as MAC or MAI), Mycobacterium abscessus, and Mycobacterium kansasii.Source. TB spreads from person to person, while NTM lives in the environment and causes infection when inhaled or ingested.Spread. TB is contagious, and you can get it only when you’re around someone who’s actively sick with TB. NTM isn’t contagious, so you can’t catch it from another person.Latency. Sometimes, TB bacteria live in your body and don’t get you sick immediately or at all. This is latent TB, and it can’t pass to others unless it becomes an active infection. NTM doesn’t pass to others even when causing an active infection.Affected areas. NTM and TB can infect the lungs, but TB can also spread to other body parts, such as the kidney, spine, and brain. NTM infections will sometimes involve areas outside of the lungs, most commonly in the skin, but sometimes in bones and joints. Both organisms can cause a widespread or disseminated infection.Treatment. A slow-progressing or mild NTM infection may not require treatment and may go away on its own.Severity. NTM infections are usually not deadly, but TB can cause death.Tuberculosis symptomsTB symptoms can vary depending on where the infection is in your body.Common symptoms include:A bad cough that lasts for weeks.Chest pain.Coughing up blood or phlegm.Fever and or chills.Weakness or fatigue.Weight loss and no appetite.Nontuberculous mycobacteria symptomsWhen NTM infections involve the lungs, some of the most common symptoms are:Shortness of breath.Persistent cough.Coughing up blood.Weight loss.Fevers.Excess mucus or phlegm.NTMs in other areas will typically cause symptoms at the site of the infection.\u00a0This could include a nonhealing wound or an infection that doesn\u2019t respond to typical antibiotics.Though NTM infections are usually not deadly, TB can lead to death if untreated. According to the World Health Organization, TB is the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 worldwide.Who’s at Risk for Tuberculosis (TB) and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Infections?Anyone exposed to someone with an active TB infection is at risk for TB, including those from a high-risk area. High-risk individuals include those who lived in a homeless shelter or were incarcerated in this area.Though we’re all exposed to mycobacterium in the environment, you’re more at risk for NTM infections if:You have a chronic lung condition such as bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis.You have conditions that can weaken your immune system, such as HIV\/AIDS or cancer.You take medicine that weakens the immune system.You inject drugs intravenously.You have a breathing tube, feeding tube, central venous line, or other medical device goes into your body.Diagnosing Tuberculosis (TB) and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)TB and NTM infections are often hard to diagnose because their symptoms are similar to those of many other illnesses.Tell your doctor if you’ve been around someone with TB or have been traveling because TB is often more prevalent in other countries. To check if you have TB, your doctor may:Listen to your breathing.Order a blood test.Perform a skin test, injecting a small amount of substance just below the skin to see if you react.Order an x-ray to look for typical signs of TB in your lungs.Test some of the mucus that comes up when you cough.If your doctor suspects you have an NTM infection, they will ask questions about your medical history and symptoms and then order tests to confirm their diagnosis.These tests will vary depending on where the infection is and what your symptoms are. They may include:A lung culture or biopsy to test fluids or material from the lung.A wound culture for an infection on your skin.A blood culture if your doctor thinks the infection is in your bloodstream.Imaging tests, such as an x-ray or CT scan, which can visualize the inside of your lungs.Tuberculosis (TB) and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) TreatmentMedical treatments can usually cure TB (latent TB and TB disease) and NTM infections. In both cases, your doctor may work with an infectious disease expert or a lung specialist to help plan your treatment.Tuberculosis treatmentAntibiotics are the treatment for TB. For latent TB, you can often take one medication for at least three months. For active TB, you often need to take up to four different medications and treatment is typically for about six months.\u00a0If the TB is resistant to standard antibiotics, it may require more medications or a longer treatment regimen.Nontuberculous mycobacteria treatmentAntibiotics are also the treatment for an NTM infection. You may not need treatment if you’re healthy or have a slow-progressing or mild NTM infection. If this is the case, your doctor may monitor your symptoms to see if your body can fight the infection.If you need treatment, you’ll probably need to take several medications at the same time for a long time to get rid of an NTM infection. The type and number of medicines you need will vary depending on the type and severity of your NTM infection.If you have an NTM infection in your lungs or the infection is affecting your breathing, you may need an inhaler or other treatment to help you breathe.Finishing treatmentWith both TB and NTM, it’s important to finish all your medicine to kill all the bacteria in your body. If you stop treatment too soon or don’t take it as your doctor instructed, you may need to take stronger or different medicines to treat the infection.SourcesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Tuberculosis (TB). LinkAmerican Society of Microbiology. Tuberculosis: Just the FAQs. LinkWorld Health Organization. Tuberculosis. LinkAmerican Lung Association. Treating and Managing NTM Lung Disease. LinkChinese Medical Journal. Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Patients with Nontuberculous\u00a0Mycobacterium\u00a0Bloodstream Infection in a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Beijing, China. LinkJAMA Patient Page. Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections. LinkCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical Overview of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). LinkCureus. Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection After Cholecystectomy: A Case Series and Literature Review. LinkNational Organization for Rare Disorders. Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease. LinkAmerican Lung Association. Learn About NTM Lung Disease. LinkMinnesota Department of Health. About Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). LinkAmerican Thoracic Society. What is Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Lung Disease? LinkIndian Journal of Medical Research. Epidemiology, diagnosis & treatment of non-tuberculous mycobacterial diseases. 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