Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM) Clinic

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous environmental organisms that can cause pulmonary and/or extrapulmonary disease. Incidence and prevalence of NTM disease is increasing globally. Diagnosis and treatment of NTM infections are often complex and need to be individualized as not all patients with positive cultures require and/or benefit from treatment. When treatment is administered, multiple drugs are required for long durations (months to years). Patients require regular monitoring for potential side effects of medication and follow up for assessment of response to treatment. Those who do not need treatment initially are often monitored to assess for change in disease over time. 

The Nontuberculous mycobacterial infection (NTM) clinic in Calgary is a multi-disciplinary team of pulmonary and infectious disease physicians, specialist nurses and pharmacists who assess and treat patients with both pulmonary and extrapulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. The Calgary NTM program is leader in establishing comprehensive subspecialty clinical clinic care.

The NTM clinic provides patient and caregiver education, treatment, management and follow up of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection patients.  The NTM clinic coordinates care with allied health including chest physiotherapists and audiologists.

NTM physicians also provide consultation for inpatients all acute care sites in Calgary as well as follow current NTM patients on therapy while admitted to hospital.

As an academic centre, management is both evidence-based and state-of-the-art. Complex cases are reviewed in regularly scheduled multidisciplinary case conference with experts from across Canada. 

All physicians at the NTM clinic are actively involved in NTM research locally, nationally and internationally to try to advance the care and optimize outcomes for NTM patients. Calgary is the leader in development of the Comprehensive Canadian Registry of Bronchiectasis and NTM infections. Patients are offered opportunities to participate in the Registry as well as other available research studies.

Please direct referrals via: Connect Care (use the Ambulatory Referral Order for Pulmonary: Nontuberculous Mycobacterial infection clinic) OR Fax completed referral form along with relevant documentation to Calgary Pulmonary Central Access and Triage 403-592-4201. 

Urgent or Emergent Referrals – contact the TB Physician on call – pager 14516. 

Phone: 403-943-4132
Fax: 403-943-4133