The number of difficult-to-treat nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections has increased in the United States.
NTM infections have become so common that a 2015 study found the bacteria in 78% of sampled U.S. tap water (Environ Sci Technol 2015;49[10]:6127-6133).
“Most NTMs are water and soil organisms and are relatively resistant to heat and chlorine in our water systems; this resistance is because of their lipid-rich cell membrane, which also allows them to stick to pipe