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The bacteria that cause MAC infections can be commonly found in water and soil. So it is possible that your mom has inhaled the bacteria while gardening. It is also possible that she got them from water. I don't believe contracting MAC infection has anything to do with pollutions, though. MAC is a group of bacteria that are so prevalent almost anybody could have them in their bodies. But most people are not affected by them. Only those who have pre-existing lung illness or weakened immune system are likely to have the infections from them. Many of us in this group who have had MAC infections also have bronchiectasis and many others have compromised immune system due to different health problems. You didn't mention if you mom has had any lung disease or has had illnesses that may have caused her immune system to weaken. If she has had any of these health problems, MAC infection could very well be the result of that.
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@cemcflc So sorry to hear about your mom's conditions. I was very healthy before being diagnosed with MAC and bronchiectasis. I had a big scare of coughing up large amount of blood that sent me to the ER. They initially thought I had TB but until the sputum test came back as positive for MAC infection. I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis at the same time, which I had not known that I had. But it all made sense why I had MAC infection. I've never smoked, either. MAC infections are more prevalent among older women and have acquired a nickname: Lade Windermere Syndrome (you can google the name and read about the origin of this nickname). Any long-term deliberate or involuntary effort to suppress coughs could lead to MAC infection because the phlegm that would have been coughed up through coughing is forced to stay in your bronchial tubes, creating a hot bed for bacteria. For me, the bronchiectasis causes the phlegm to be trapped in crevices as a result of damaged airways. Although I am able to cough up a bunch everyday, but more phlegm is generated than my ability to expel it. For people with normal bronchial functions, this would have been much of a problem as the mucus would have been able to move freely. Hopefully the doctors can find out what has caused your mom's MAC infection. She may or may not have bronchiectasis. But some condition must have caused the bacteria to be trapped inside her lungs to cause the infection.
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@ling123 Thank you so much for your feedback. It's greatly appreciated. My mom has no illnesses. That's why we just don't understand how she contracted MAC. She was a perfectly healthy 69 year old. She's never smoked and has always eating very healthy and is still very active although she now must use an inhaler and gets fatigued very easily. She's also been having abdominal pains and issues with her gastrointestinal track for the last year.