Submission Tilte
Pulmonary Mycobacterial Diseases: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies
Submission Abstract:
Pulmonary mycobacterial diseases, including tuberculosis (TB) and non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections, remain major causes of respiratory morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite substantial progress in public health interventions and antimicrobial therapy, these diseases continue to pose significant clinical and epidemiological challenges, driven by antimicrobial resistance, diagnostic delays, heterogeneous clinical presentations, and long-term pulmonary sequelae. The global burden of pulmonary mycobacterial infections is further amplified in vulnerable populations and in regions with limited access to advanced diagnostic and therapeutic resources.
This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive and multidisciplinary overview of recent advances in the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of pulmonary mycobacterial diseases. Contributions will address evolving global and regional epidemiological trends, molecular and immunological mechanisms underlying pulmonary infection, and innovations in diagnostic strategies, including rapid molecular assays and advanced imaging techniques. Particular emphasis will be placed on drug-resistant tuberculosis, emerging non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung diseases, and the role of host–pathogen interactions in disease progression and treatment response.
In addition, this collection will highlight emerging and adjunctive therapeutic approaches, such as novel antimicrobial agents, host-directed therapies, and precision medicine strategies tailored to individual patient and pathogen profiles. By integrating clinical, translational, and public health perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to inform evidence-based respiratory practice, stimulate interdisciplinary research, and contribute to improved outcomes in patients with pulmonary mycobacterial diseases.