In simple words: Pulmonary mycobacterial infection is a lung infection caused by bacteria called mycobacteria.These bacteria are not the same as those that cause tuberculosis. Symptoms can include coughing, coughing up blood, difficulty breathing, tiredness, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.

This code encompasses infections due to various non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) affecting the lungs, including Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), Mycobacterium kansasii, and Mycobacterium intracellulare (Battey bacillus). It manifests as a chronic pulmonary disease with symptoms such as persistent cough (with or without sputum production), chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.

Example 1: A 65-year-old patient with a history of COPD presents with a persistent cough, weight loss, and fatigue. Sputum culture confirms Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection., An immunocompromised patient develops a pulmonary infection after environmental exposure to Mycobacterium kansasii. Chest imaging reveals nodular opacities., A patient with bronchiectasis experiences worsening cough and shortness of breath.Bronchoalveolar lavage reveals the presence of Mycobacterium intracellulare.

Documentation should include type of mycobacteria, confirmation method (e.g., culture, biopsy), clinical findings (cough, shortness of breath, etc.), chest imaging results, and treatment plan.