Disseminated <i>Mycobacterium scrofulaceum</i> Infection in an Immunocompetent Host

Abstract

A 56-year-old woman, without any immunocompromising diseases, was referred to our hospital because of a recurrence of pyogenic spondylitis. Computed tomography revealed multiple osteolytic changes in the whole body. Vertebral magnetic resonance imaging revealed osteomyelitis and spondylitis. Mycobacterium scrofulaceum was detected in sputum cultures, in abscesses from the right knee, and in a subcutaneous forehead abscess. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with disseminated Mycobacterium scrofulaceum infection. The patient was treated with rifampicin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin, which resulted in symptomatic relief and radiological improvement. We herein report a rare case of disseminated Mycobacterium scrofulaceum infection in an immunocompetent host.

Drug resistance and pathogenic spectrum of patients coinfected with nontuberculous mycobacteria and human-immunodeficiency virus in Chengdu, China

“…[16] Many reports of human pathogenicity caused by M. scrofulaceum , M. fortuitum , and M. xenopi have been published. [17–19] However, such strains of NTM in HIV-infected patients were rare. In this study, two strains of M. scrofulaceum , one of M. fortuitum , and one of M. xenopi causing lung infections were isolated from the 59 patients.…”