Open AccessCatheter‐related Mycobacterium abscessus bacteremia manifested with skin nodules, pneumonia, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy
Author(s) -
Su ShouHsin,
Chen YenHsu,
Tsai TungYuan,
Huang SuChiao,
Lin ChunYu,
Chen TunChieh,
Lu PoLiang
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the kaohsiung journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.439
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2410-8650
pISSN - 1607-551X
DOI - 10.1016/j.kjms.2012.08.008
Subject(s) - medicine , bacteremia , amikacin , pneumonia , catheter , levofloxacin , mycobacterium abscessus , peripherally inserted central catheter , surgery , antibiotics , mycobacterium , pathology , tuberculosis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Although previously rare, catheter‐related bloodstream infection caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria is now increasingly encountered, especially among cancer patients who have catheters implanted for chemotherapy treatments. A 73‐year‐old female patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) had Mycobacterium abscessus bacteremia with manifestations of multiple skin nodules, pneumonia, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy 4 months after the implantation of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) for the delivery of chemotherapy. The catheter‐related M. abscessus bacteremia was confirmed by positive blood cultures of specimens drawn from a PICC line and a peripheral vein. She defervesced with the administration of meropenem, amikacin, levofloxacin, clarithromycin, and by the removal of PICC. Her fever subsided for 3 months with the disappearance of skin and lung lesions; however, she died of AML relapse. Bacteremia and skin infection caused by M. abscessus can be detected by culture and pathological examinations and should be considered in leukemia patients with a PICC. With appropriate laboratory diagnosis, M. abscessus bacteremia with disseminated infections can improve with catheter removal and combination antimicrobial therapy.