Open AccessM ycobacterium abscessus – to treat or not to treat
Author(s) -
Pang YongKek,
Ngeow YunFong,
Wong YanLing,
Liam ChongKin
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
respirology case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2051-3380
DOI - 10.1002/rcr2.17
Subject(s) - medicine , mycobacterium abscessus , antibiotics , pneumothorax , tuberculosis , lung disease , mycobacterium tuberculosis , cystic fibrosis , nontuberculous mycobacteria , surgery , disease , budesonide , lung , intensive care medicine , asthma , mycobacterium , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
A patient with M ycobacterium abscessus lung disease was mistaken to have pulmonary tuberculosis with airway colonization by the non‐tuberculous mycobacterium. Appropriate antibiotics were only given when the patient's signs and symptoms worsened while on anti‐tuberculosis therapy. Despite treatment with a combination of antibiotics showing in vitro susceptibility, the pathogen persisted in the respiratory secretions for longer than 6 months and the patient suffered a spontaneous pneumothorax 14 months into treatment. This case illustrates the chronic course of M . abscessus lung infection, the tendency for flare‐ups, the inadequacy of current treatment regimens, and the necessity for prolonged patient follow‐up.