Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Humans, Animals, and Water in Zambia: A Systematic Review

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental opportunistic pathogens of humans and animals that emerging with a serious public health impact particularly in individuals Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes. Recent scientific evidence is shifting from NTMs being known as traditional organisms to pathogenic both humans. In humans, factors attributable this rise have been linked mainly Human Virus Syndrome pandemic. recent years there has an increase multidrug resistant Tuberculosis Zambia it thought could possibly be the cause. This study was therefore formulated review available information on prevalence NTM environment, species distribution, zoonotic potential importance Zambia. conducted accordance PRISMA guidelines. A literature search done PubMed Google scholar using predefined terms such ‘nontuberculous mycobacteria’, ‘atypical ‘mycobacteria other than mycobacterium tuberculosis’ ‘Zambia’, combination Boolean operators (AND, OR). particular systematic draws findings based between 2000 2020. Through 243 papers were identified, 23 duplicates identified removed 206 articles excluded they did not meet inclusion criteria. The full text remaining 14 considered for review. overall 24.39%, water 21.5%, 16.05% which cattle 14.81% Kafue Lechwe 1.23%. Mycobacterium intracellulare most common isolated nontuberculous while gordonae water, stomatepiae sp Nov Lechwe. threat calls need molecular transmission mycobacteria. Increased awareness diseases among clinicians laboratory personnel crucial patient management essential step facilitating identification laboratories.