Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections are now more commonly detected than tuberculosis in the United States, due to rising prevalence numbers along with a greater awareness due to improvements in detection, culture, and diagnosis. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) refers to all the species in the family of mycobacteria that may cause human disease, but do not cause tuberculosis (TB) or leprosy. In a U.S. study from 2010, it was estimated that approximately 30 people per 100,000 population were infected with these lesser-known "cousins" of TB and leprosy. In fact, for unknown reasons, data from across the globe notes an increase in case rates of infection over time.