Pulmonary NTM Information for Health Professionals:
Sentinel Surveillance and Reporting

On October 1, 2019, MDH initiated laboratory-based pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) surveillance among residents of Hennepin and Ramsey counties. At this time, pulmonary NTM is reportable for Hennepin and Ramsey county residents by the laboratory that identifies the organism.

On this page:
What to report 
How to report
Isolate submission and laboratory testing
Reporting: proposal and notification letters
More information and resources

What to report

• All patients with pulmonary NTM infection who are Hennepin and Ramsey county residents must be reported to MDH within one working day after the test result is finalized.
  
   
• Webex Recording: Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Newly Reportable to MDH (44 minutes)
  Recorded on Oct. 31, 2019
  Slides: Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Newly Reportable to MDH (PDF)

How to report

• Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR)
  For any health system that has a previously established ELR feed with the Minnesota Department of Health, pulmonary NTM should be reported via ELR.
  
   
• Yellow Disease Report Card
  Pulmonary NTM may be reported using the MDH "Yellow Card."
  
   
• Phone
  Any reportable infectious disease may be reported by phone to 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414.

Isolate submission and laboratory testing

• Isolate Submission: Pulmonary NTM Information for Health Professionals
  At this time, MDH is not requesting routine pulmonary NTM isolate submission. If apparent clusters or outbreaks of pulmonary NTM infection are occurring, MDH may request specific isolates.

Reporting: proposal and notification letters

• Proposal for Conducting Sentinel Surveillance for Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) among Residents of Hennepin and Ramsey Counties under the Minnesota Communicable Disease Rule (4605.7046) (PDF)
  The proposal explaining the rationale for this change. The Commissioner of Health has the authority to select infectious disease/syndromes and reporting sites for sentinel surveillance per Minn. Rules 4605.7046.
• Commissioner's Letter to Minnesota Hospital and Reference Laboratories Regarding Reporting of Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM), October 1, 2019 (PDF)

More about infectious disease reporting

• Infectious Disease Reporting
  Find out which infectious diseases must be reported by law in Minnesota, who is required to report diseases, how each disease can be reported, and download the appropriate forms.

More information and resources

• CDC: Clinical Overview of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)