Factors influencing the decision to initiate therapy for NTM-PD
| Host factors | Mycobacterial factors | Environmental factors |
| Severity of respiratory and constitutional symptoms (eg, cough, sputum production, breathlessness, fatigue and malaise) | Virulence/pathogenicity (usually identified from mycobacterial speciation) | Promotion of NTM persistence (eg, through the use of inhaled steroids) |
| Comorbidities | Drug resistance profile (note: there is usually only limited information available) | Ongoing exposure to mycobacteria |
| Degree of lung damage (severity and/or extent of disease) |
NTM, non-tuberculous mycobacteria; NTM-PD, non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.