Overrepresentation of Diabetes in Soft Tissue Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections

Abstract

<p>Diabetes predisposes patients to bacterial infections. Although diabetes confers susceptibility to tuberculosis, the association between nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections and diabetes remains unknown. A retrospective chart analysis of patients in northern Australia during a 20-year period with soft tissue NTM infections revealed that patients with diabetes were three times overrepresented in comparison to the general population (odds ratio = 3.13). There was a statistically significant association between NTM infections and diabetes in this patient cohort (<i>P</i> = 0.0082).</p>