Mycobacterium abscessus Lung Infection: A Case Report

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous, and more than 150 species have been identified.1,2 These low-virulence mycobacteria are known to cause mostly opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients, although they are increasingly seen in normal hosts.1,2 Mycobacterium abscessus complex is a rapidly growing NTM, which was the second most commonly isolated NTM pulmonary pathogen in British Columbia and Alberta in 2013.2 In Quebec, M. abscessus complex represented 11.4% of the 474 mycobacteria samples received for susceptibility testing by the Laboratoire de sante publique du Quebec in the period April 2012 to March 2013.3 Multiple-drug resistance and frequent relapses make the treatment of M. abscessus lung infections clinically challenging.1 This case report discusses the management of pulmonary M. abscessus infection in a patient who underwent prolonged antimicrobial treatment and surgery and in whom several antimicrobial adverse effects were suspected.