Genus Mycobacterium as an etiological agent of pulmonary infection in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Only a few species of genus Mycobacterium are obligatory aetiological agents of pulmonary disease in humans. Among them, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) causes tuberculosis, a disease responsible for high morbidity and mortality globally. Non tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly recognized as a significant cause of chronic pulmonary infections in both immune-compromised and immune-competent patients in the world.