touchEXPERT BRIEFING NTM lung disease: a serious problem we should always be aware of
Watch Prof. Stefano Aliberti discuss the impact of Nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease on patients and how to improve awareness and increase detection of the condition.
The impact of NTM lung disease
Prof. Stefano Aliberti discusses the significant burden of NTM lung disease and the impact it can have on patients with existing lung conditions.
view bio and disclosures 1/2 Next InterviewIn this interview, we asked Prof. Stefano Aliberti the following questions:
- What is the impact of NTM lung disease on lung function with concomitant lung diseases?
- How does NTM lung disease impact aspects of care or quality of life for a patient with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis?
- How does NTM lung disease affect the quality of a patient's life who has cystic fibrosis?
- What complications are presented by NTM lung disease in a patient who has undergone lung transplant?
Raising awareness of NTM lung disease
Prof. Stefano Aliberti reviews ways to improve awareness of NTM lung disease and increase detection and diagnosis rates.
view bio and disclosures 2/2 Leave FeedbackIn this interview, we asked Prof. Stefano Aliberti the following questions:
- How can the awareness of NTM lung disease be improved, especially in patients with other lung conditions?
- What challenges to the detection of NTM are presented by structural damage caused by other conditions?
- What advice can you provide for physicians to help increase the detection of NTM lung disease?
- What have we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that might change NTM lung disease care moving forwards?
Learning Objectives & Overview
Overview
Nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease is a serious condition that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and decreased patient quality of life.1–3 In this activity, Prof. Stefano Alberti discusses how to detect and diagnose NTM lung disease, especially in patients with existing lung or respiratory conditions.
You can also view a earlier touchEXPERT BRIEFING here
Learning Objectives
After watching this activity, participants should be better able to:
- Describe the significant burden of NTM lung disease for patients, in terms of increased mortality and morbidity and reduced quality of life
- Recall how NTM influences declining lung function over time and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to NTM management to optimise outcomes
- Recognise the low level of disease awareness for NTM lung disease and how this may be improved
Faculty & Disclosures

Prof. Stefano Aliberti
Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
Stefano Aliberti is professor of respiratory medicine at Humanitas University and director of the Respiratory Department at the Humanitas Research Hospital in Milan, Italy. He is also leading the bronchiectasis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria programmes at the Humanitas Research Hospital. read more
Prof. Aliberti has extensive experience in epidemiological and clinical research in pneumonia since the early 2000s when he was working for the Community-Acquired Pneumonia Organization at the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Louisville, KY, USA.
Over the past 15 years, Prof. Aliberti has been heavily involved in chronic respiratory infection research, including bronchiectasis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria, and received the Young Researcher Award in Respiratory Infections from the European Respiratory Society (ERS) for his contribution to community-acquired pneumonia. He founded the European Bronchiectasis Registry and is the chair of both the Italian Bronchiectasis Registry and the Italian Registry of Pulmonary Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria. He is also chair of the ERS END-COVID clinical research collaboration. Prof. Aliberti has been an active member in different international societies over the past decade, including ERS, American College of Chest Physicians and the European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Prof. Aliberti has been involved in the development of guidelines on bronchiectasis, COVID-19 and severe pneumonia, as well as statements on tuberculosis. He is also associate editor (chest infections) for CHEST.
Prof. Aliberti’s major clinical and research interests are in both acute and chronic respiratory infections.
Disclosures
Prof. Stefano Aliberti discloses: Advisory board or panel fees from AstraZeneca UK Ltd (relationship terminated), Insmed, and Insmed Italy Srl (relationship terminated). Consultancy fees from Grifols Shared Services North America Inc., Fondazione Internazionale Menarini, Insmed Ireland Ltd, Insmed Italy Srl and Zambon Spa (relationships terminated with all companies). Grants/research support from Fisher & Paykel and Insmed. Speaker’s bureau fees from CSL Behring GmbH, GlaxoSmithKline SpA and Insmed Italy Srl (relationships terminated with all companies).
References
References
- Lee MR, et al. Factors associated with lung function decline in patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease. PLoS One 2013; 8:e58214
- Griffith DE, et al. An official ATS/IDSA statement: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007;175:367–416
- Mehta M, Marras TK. Impaired health-related quality of life in pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease. Respir Med 2011;105:1718–25