Overview
About our program
The Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Center is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary center tailored to meet the needs of patients with NTM infections.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are bacteria found in the environment such as dust, soil, and water that can cause infections primarily in the lungs, but can also cause infections in other organs such as skin, bones and blood. Anyone can get an NTM infection, but they occur more often in people with other health problems (such as those with underlying lung disease) or compromised immune system. The most common forms of NTM are Mycobacterium avium complex (frequently called “MAC”) and Mycobacterium abscessus.
A team approach
Our multidisciplinary team will provide coordinated care with pulmonary and infectious disease experts during the clinic visit, and provide other services as needed such as visits with respiratory therapists for airway clearance techniques, or referral to our thoracic surgeon for evaluation. Our team includes specialists in the following areas:
- Infectious Disease.
- Pulmonary Medicine.
- Thoracic Surgery.
- Laboratory Medicine.
- Pharmacists.
- Radiology.
- Respiratory Therapy.
- Nutrition Therapy.
If necessary, we will also schedule laboratory and radiology appointments, as well as other procedures such as sputum induction and pulmonary function testing, during your visit.
What We Treat
We treat nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections in different organs, including the lungs, skin, bones, lymph nodes and blood. We treat nontuberculous mycobacterial infections that may require surgery, or those that occur after surgery.
One of the factors contributing to development and persistence of NTM infections could be damaged lung which prevents the body from successfully eradicating the infection. In such circumstances, surgical lung resection may be warranted to remove diseased portions of lung that function as chronic reservoirs of infection and thus antibiotic resistance.
Treatment options include:
- Antibiotic optimization, including initiation of intravenous antibiotics if needed
- Pulmonary hygiene
- Nutritional optimization
- Interventional bronchoscopy
- Surveillance bronchoscopy
- Pleural drainage
- Surgical resection of damaged lung
We treat different types of nontuberculous mycobacteria, including:
- Mycobacterium kansansii
- Mycobacterium avium complex or MAC (including Mycobacterium chimaera)
- Mycobacterium abscessus
- Mycobacterium chelonae
- Mycobacterium fortuitum
- Mycobacterium marinum
Our Medical Team
Infectious Disease:
- Patricia Bartley, MD
- Tricia Bravo, MD
- Eric Cober, MD
- Thomas Fraser, MD
- Lucileia Johnson, MD
- Bethany Lehman, DO
- Cyndee Miranda, MD
Pulmonary Medicine:
Thoracic Surgery:
Radiology:
Pharmacy:
- Andrea Pallotta, Pharm D
Respiratory Therapy:
- Scott Marlow
- Leslie Patzwahl
Appointments & Locations
To schedule an appointment with a provider at the Center for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM), please call 216.444.6503.
It is very important that you provide us with available medical records and imaging in order to facilitate your care. Medical records should include office notes or visits with your doctors (including if available notes from your pulmonologists, infectious disease, primary care doctor and surgeon), laboratory results including culture results and blood work, and results of other procedures done such as lung function testing. Imaging results should include the report and a copy of these images on a CD. Imaging may include CT, MRI, or x-rays.
Please send in your records and CD of your images in the same package with your name and address and send it via Airborne Express, Federal Express or certified U.S. mail (make sure you have a tracking number). Failure to send your information and the disc with your images may delay your care. The address to send is:
NTM Center
9500 Euclid Ave Desk G-21
Cleveland, OH 44195
Records may be faxed to us at 216.445.9446 but the disc with the images will have to be mailed.
Virtual Visits
Virtual visits are available for both new consults (depending on the state that you reside in) and follow-up appointments. Please discuss with your provider to determine if this is an option for you.
Locations
We are expanding to offer our services at other locations. When you are contacted by our scheduling team, they'll arrange your first appointment at one of the following locations most convenient for you.
