Species of concernOut of over 190 recognized NTM species, only about 30 are clinically significant. As NTM species vary in pathogenicity and their antibiotic resistance, differentiation of species is crucial. Diagnostic challengesA key challenge in NTM infection diagnostics is identifying and differentiating clinically important pathogenic species. For instance, NTM species like M gordonae rarely cause disease but are often isolated from clinical specimens. Once the disease-causing NTM species has been identified, it is possible to predict which drugs would be most effective.