Agents of newly recognized or infrequently encountered mycobacterial diseases

Abstract

This paper reviews recent information on the systematics and clinical significance of potentially pathogenic environmental mycobacteria. A short history of these mycobacteria is given. Information on species for which clinical and systematic aspects have already been well documented, i.e., Mycobacterium kansasii, M. marinum, M. scrofulaceum, M. simiae, M. szulgai, M. ulcerans, M. xenopi, and members of the M. fortuitum complex, is updated. Although the M. avium complex was extensively reviewed in earlier literature, major new systematic and clinical information is presented in some detail. Species that have received very limited prior coverage, i.e., M. asiaticum, M. haemophilum, M. malmoense, and M. shimoidei, are the main subjects of this review and are discussed in detail. The rare infections attributed to species that are normally considered nonpathogenic, i.e., M. gastri, M. gordonae, the M. terrae complex, and most of the rapidly growing mycobacteria outside of the M. fortuitum complex, are critically reviewed. Finally, suggestions are offered for practical measures that can minimize the risk of failing to isolate or misidentifying some of the more obscure potentially pathogenic environmental mycobacteria that are only infrequently recognized.

Epidemiology and Clinical Significance of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Patients Negative for Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Switzerland

“…Mycobacterium triviale, Mycobacterium gastri, and almost all rapidly growing mycobacteria (M. fortuitum and M. chelonaeexcluded) are rarely associated with human disease [13,25,145].…”

Fatal pulmonary cavitary disease secondary to Mycobacterium xenopi in a patient with sarcoidosis

“…Mycobacterium xenopi ( M. xenopi ) is a ubiquitous thermophilic bacterium occurring predominantly in water. Its detection in clinical samples is usually associated with contamination and asymptomatic transient colonization [3–6]. However, in recent years an increasing number of clinically relevant M. xenopi infections have been reported [7–11].…”

Pyogranuloma Caused byMycobacterium AsiaticumInfection in a Steer

“…In most, if not all, described cases, the patients had some predisposing condition that suggested a predilection to mycobacterial infection. 12 All isolates reported by Wayne and Sramek 12 could be traced to subtropical climate environmental sources. 1 This article describes the first reported isolation of M. asiaticum associated with pyogranulomas in cattle.…”

“…13 Historically, clinical isolates have been rarely encountered but when recovered have usually been the cause of disease in humans. 12 In 1983, pulmonary mycobacteriosis caused by this organism was reported in Queensland, Australia. 1 Similar reports were later made in the United States 10 and Thailand.…”