My sputum cultures never "converted" to negative after stopping the antibiotics, but my ID and Pulmo docs said that was not unexpected. However, my annual lung CT's have shown no new evidence of cavities, pockets or ground glass opacities, which indicate progression of infection. We are no longer checking sputum because I have maintained my health with mucolytics, 7% saline and airway clearance since December 2019, with only one major exacerbation nearly one year ago (treated with steroids and short course of single antibiotic.)

I have begun to think about NTM infections more like my ID doc - he compares it to positive TB on the Gold test, but having neither symptoms nor CT evidence of advancement - watch and wait, treatment optional. I do not ever plan to go back on the Big-3 unless I get sick & the CT shows progression...way too had on this old body!

How do your lung CT's look? Did you have one before stopping antibiotics to compare with a new one?
Sue