Mycobacterium abscessus – to treat or not to treat?

• Main Authors: Liam, C.K., Pang, Y.K., Ngeow, Y.F., Wong, Y.L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: John Wiley & Sons Ltd 2013
• Subjects: R Medicine (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/10615/1/Mycobacterium_abscessus.pdf; http://eprints.um.edu.my/10615/

A patient with Mycobacterium 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.