@boomerexpert, You are right. NTM infection is not rare. I believe a lot of it is misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. There was a push for pulmonologists to test every patient with chronic cough for 'Alpha-1' and now most of them do. I feel like it should be automatic that every patient get a sputem test and samples sent to the better labs that test for mycobacteriums.

Astonishingly, I can't get Rheumatologists to understand the importance of ordering a simple chest xray in addition to the usual TB test, prior to putting their patients on immuno-suppressing biologics (eg Humira, etc.)... it's not yet protocol so they look at me blankly when I urge them to do it...sigh...

@boomerexpert
Your so right about checking your lungs before and while on humira.
I was put on Humira 8 years ago with devasting results to my lungs. It was the beginning of all my trouble with infections. The first one Of Pseudomonas just about killed me before they figured out it was the humira. Then I got bronchectasis as a result and it was pretty much all down hill from there.
Shari

@boomerexpert l wonder if instead of a chest xray….a low dose CAT scan read by a Radiologist certified in reading the thoracic region is warranted prior to putting people on the immuno-suppressing biologic meds???tdrell

It's better, but chest xray easier and cheaper for many, and gets the preliminary results needed...