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Early chemotherapy for non‐tuberculous mycobacterial infections in patients with cystic fibrosis
Author(s) -
Forslöw U,
Geborek A,
Hjelte L,
Petrini B,
Heurlin N
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2003.tb00623.x
Subject(s) - antimycobacterial , medicine , cystic fibrosis , mycobacterium kansasii , sputum , sputum culture , chemotherapy , tuberculosis , isoniazid , mycobacterium , gastroenterology , lung , mycobacterium tuberculosis , pathology
Aim : To evaluate the response rate to antimycobacterial drug therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) suffering from infection by non‐tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Methods : Ten patients, aged 10–34 y, out of 180 CF patients, were diagnosed with NTM disease. They had been regularly checked and examined for pulmonary symptoms, and had had chest X‐rays and sputum cultures (including for mycobacteria) performed. One additional 36‐y‐old female received her CF diagnosis soon after the NTM diagnosis. Results : Mycobacterium avium‐intracellulare complex (MAC) was found in 10 out of 11 patients and M. kansasii in 1 patient. Treatment with antimycobacterial drugs resulted in clinical improvement (weight gain or stabilization of weight and/or improved or stabilized lung function in 8 out of 11 patients) and mycobacterial culture turned negative in 10 out of 11. Conclusion : Promising results may be associated with early intervention with antimycobacterial therapy in CF patients.