A Geospatial Epidemiologic Analysis of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection: An Ecological Study in Colorado.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous environmental microorganisms. Infection is thought to result primarily from exposure to soil and/or water sources. NTM disease prevalence varies greatly by geographic region, but the geospatial factors influencing this variation remain unclear.

Objectives

To identify sociodemographic and environmental ecological risk factors associated with NTM infection and disease in Colorado.

Methods

We conducted an ecological study, combining data from patients with a diagnosis of NTM disease from National Jewish Health's electronic medical record database and ZIP code-level sociodemographic and environmental exposure data obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Census Bur

SUBMITTER: Lipner EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5718570 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature