Scholarlink

Background <p>Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental pathogens causing pulmonary and extrapulmonary infections. First Nations people in Australia experience higher burdens of communicable diseases, comorbidities, and systemic barriers to care, increasing NTM risk. This study examined the incidence and spatial distribution of NTM notifications in First Nations people in Queensland, Australia.</p> Methods <p>A retrospective longitudinal analysis of laboratory-based NTM notifications was conducted using the Queensland Health Notifiable Conditions Database, stratified by Indigenous status. Incidence was calculated using population denominators and Indigenous Region boundaries, with direct rate comparisons between 2011 and 2024.</p> Results <p>Between 2001 and 2024, 717 NTM notifications were recorded from 606 First Nations people, with a significant male predominance among those aged 30–44 years (χ<sup>2</sup> = 21.63, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). NTM notification incidence was higher in 2024 than in 2011, increasing from 4.6 to 26.3 per 100,000 (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 5.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.97–11.08, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). Although incidence in 2024 was lower than in the non-Indigenous population (35.81 per 100,000), the rate of increase was 4.4 times greater. Pulmonary notifications predominated (569/717, 79.36%) and were more frequent in 2024 than in 2011 (IRR: 6.95, 95% CI: 3.00–19.75, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). Extrapulmonary notifications increased by 140% from 2020 primarily due to an outbreak of <i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> infections among incarcerated First Nations males. Marked geospatial heterogeneity was observed, with the greatest increases in notification incidence in the Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville–Mackay, and Cairns–Atherton Indigenous Regions (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001).</p> Conclusions <p>NTM notification incidence among First Nations people in Queensland has increased substantially, with a faster rate of rise than in the non-Indigenous population despite lower absolute incidence, consistent with under-ascertainment. These findings highlight gaps in detection and diagnostic access, alongside heterogeneous geographic and outbreak-associated transmission dynamics. Strengthening culturally appropriate surveillance and improving access to timely diagnosis are required to better define disease burden and inform targeted clinical and public health responses in First Nations and other underserved populations.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Temporal trends and spatial variation in nontuberculous mycobacterial notification incidence among First Nations people in Queensland, Australia

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月29日

查看全文
  • Melinda M. Ashcroft,
  • Felicia Goh,
  • Atha Rifqia Pradana,
  • Scott C. Bell,
  • Rachel M. Thomson

摘要

Background

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental pathogens causing pulmonary and extrapulmonary infections. First Nations people in Australia experience higher burdens of communicable diseases, comorbidities, and systemic barriers to care, increasing NTM risk. This study examined the incidence and spatial distribution of NTM notifications in First Nations people in Queensland, Australia.

Methods

A retrospective longitudinal analysis of laboratory-based NTM notifications was conducted using the Queensland Health Notifiable Conditions Database, stratified by Indigenous status. Incidence was calculated using population denominators and Indigenous Region boundaries, with direct rate comparisons between 2011 and 2024.

Results

Between 2001 and 2024, 717 NTM notifications were recorded from 606 First Nations people, with a significant male predominance among those aged 30–44 years (χ2 = 21.63, p < 0.0001). NTM notification incidence was higher in 2024 than in 2011, increasing from 4.6 to 26.3 per 100,000 (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 5.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.97–11.08, p < 0.0001). Although incidence in 2024 was lower than in the non-Indigenous population (35.81 per 100,000), the rate of increase was 4.4 times greater. Pulmonary notifications predominated (569/717, 79.36%) and were more frequent in 2024 than in 2011 (IRR: 6.95, 95% CI: 3.00–19.75, p < 0.0001). Extrapulmonary notifications increased by 140% from 2020 primarily due to an outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus infections among incarcerated First Nations males. Marked geospatial heterogeneity was observed, with the greatest increases in notification incidence in the Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville–Mackay, and Cairns–Atherton Indigenous Regions (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

NTM notification incidence among First Nations people in Queensland has increased substantially, with a faster rate of rise than in the non-Indigenous population despite lower absolute incidence, consistent with under-ascertainment. These findings highlight gaps in detection and diagnostic access, alongside heterogeneous geographic and outbreak-associated transmission dynamics. Strengthening culturally appropriate surveillance and improving access to timely diagnosis are required to better define disease burden and inform targeted clinical and public health responses in First Nations and other underserved populations.