DENVER -- Doctors across the country are seeing an increase in a bacterial lung infection called non-tuberculous mycobacteria or NTM.

There are not enough studies out right now to show exactly how a person gets the infection but some doctors believe it is possible to get it from hot tubs or even by taking a shower. NTM is a lung disease that doctors say starts from germs that reside in the water and soil. It is even possible to get it from hot, steamy showers, doctors say.

One of the theories of NTM is that germs become airborne because of the mist from the hot water.

"These organisms may reside in our ambient water systems," said Dr. Gwen Huitt of National Jewish Hospital. "So the mist from the showers, we inhale it and then it starts the disease."

The profile of a typical NTM patient is a woman who is on the skinny side, but there is not enough information to say that for sure, according to Huitt.

Beth McKnight, a patient with NTM, had no idea what NTM was when she was first diagnosed with it.

She now has to take two pills with lunch and three at night before she goes to sleep.

"Right now, they don't have a way to get it out of your lungs. You just treat it with medication," said McKnight. "Some days when I take medicine I'll feel nauseous."

Because of NTM McKnight said she now she can only take baths, not showers.

"I don't take very hot baths either," said McKnight. "No more hot tubs."

"I need a lot of energy for the work that I do because I'm in public communications and relations," said McKnight.

And medication and respiratory therapy is something that she knows she will likely live with until doctors find more answers.

According to doctors from National Jewish, NTM is not contagious from one person to another and some of the symptoms include a constant dry cough and fatigue.

To learn more about nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) go to the Web site for National Jewish Hospital.