Hao-Yun Chang1, Wan-Chen Tsai1, Tai-Fen Lee2, Wang-Huei Sheng3. 1. Departments of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Departments of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Departments of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: whsheng@ntu.edu.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Mycobacterium gordonae is a ubiquitous environmental mycobacteria and has been long considered an opportunistic pathogen, causing infections only in immunocompromised hosts. Cases of M. gordonae related infections in immunocompetent host have rarely been reported, and the pathogenicity of M. gordonae remained uncertain. METHODS: From January 2016 to December 2018, seven cases of M. gordonae infection were diagnosed and treated at National Taiwan University Hospital. RESULTS: Six cases had at least one underlying disease affecting immune status, while one case had no identifiable underlying disease. The sites of infection were lung (n = 3), skin and soft tissue (n = 3), and one had disseminated disease involving the lung and bone marrow. All patients were cured after anti-mycobacterial treatment, except one patient died of refractory leukemia. CONCLUSION: Compatible with the literature reports, we demonstrate that M. gordonae could be pathogenic and causing infection not only in the immunocompromised host, but also in the otherwise healthy population. Multi-antimicrobial combination and adequate source control could have good therapeutic effect for patients with M. gordonae infections.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE:Mycobacterium gordonae is a ubiquitous environmental mycobacteria and has been long considered an opportunistic pathogen, causing infections only in immunocompromised hosts. Cases of M. gordonae related infections in immunocompetent host have rarely been reported, and the pathogenicity of M. gordonae remained uncertain. METHODS: From January 2016 to December 2018, seven cases of M. gordonae infection were diagnosed and treated at National Taiwan University Hospital. RESULTS: Six cases had at least one underlying disease affecting immune status, while one case had no identifiable underlying disease. The sites of infection were lung (n = 3), skin and soft tissue (n = 3), and one had disseminated disease involving the lung and bone marrow. All patients were cured after anti-mycobacterial treatment, except one patient died of refractory leukemia. CONCLUSION: Compatible with the literature reports, we demonstrate that M. gordonae could be pathogenic and causing infection not only in the immunocompromised host, but also in the otherwise healthy population. Multi-antimicrobial combination and adequate source control could have good therapeutic effect for patients with M. gordonae infections.