Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections

NTM infections are usually diagnosed by a combination of findings. Firstly, there has to be a positive culture result relevant to the area of infection that is positive for growth of NTM. Secondly, the clinical findings should be consistent with NTM infection. Thus, an inflamed post-surgical wound with pus expressed and positive culture of NTM from the pus itself would give us the clinical diagnosis of NTM post-surgical wound infection. 

The diagnosis of lung NTM infection on the other hand is more complex and would require a combination of positive respiratory sample cultures, compatible symptoms and compatible lung imaging findings suggestive of NTM infection.