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MAC infection in knee?

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Nov 29, 2023 | Replies (29)

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@sueinmn

Well, the bad news is NTM (non-tubercular mycobacteria) is everywhere - in the air, water and soil. Further bad news - there are hundreds of known strains.
The good news is, most strains don't cause infection in humans. And more good news is, even those which do generally only infect a miniscule percent of the population. For something that is everywhere - only one person in 1000 (.1%) develops an NTM infection needing treatment in any year.
Usually, NTM infects people with already unhealthy lungs - those who have Bronchiectasis or Cystic Fibrosis, or people with severely compromised immune systems. And it is treatable. NTM infections like the one mentioned from the guy with the imbedded cactus spine are so rare as to practically be medical oddities.

I'm afraid if I worried about being exposed to NTM, I would need to live in a sterile bubble. Instead, I just use airway clearance and a healthy lifestyle with reasonable precautions to keep MAC and Pseudomonas from settling into my lungs again. It has been working for 3 1/2 years now with no drugs!
Sue

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Replies to "Well, the bad news is NTM (non-tubercular mycobacteria) is everywhere - in the air, water and..."

Well, I finally saw a pulmonologist yesterday for my MAC and he said I need to take the 3 antibiotics or do the nebulizer. Because of side effects I chose to stay on only azithromycin and B Complex and B12 shots plus all my other immune boosting things. He was nice. Told me azithromycin would not kill the bug (as he called it) and I could possibly turn it into a superbug that could not be stopped but if I am feeling good with just what I am doing he agreed to that and said we would do a CT in 4 months and see if it has progressed then make choices. I feel like the body is capable of many things so onward I will go with a positive attitude that I can suppress this with what I am doing. I am to active to let these drugs get me down. Life is to short as it is. Oh, he also told me that it is not what is wrong with my knee. He actually said it doesn’t go to the knees. Anyway, all is good 😊