Real-world experience of prolonged treatment for treatment-refractory nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: Benefits and harms of extending therapy beyond 24 months

Extending antibiotic therapy beyond 24 months in patients with treatment-refractory NTM-PD does not necessarily confer additional microbiological, radiographic, or survival benefits, and may increase the risk of adverse events. Therefore, prolonged therapy should be reserved for selected patients, with close monitoring for side effects and macrolide resistance.