title: Catheter-related bacteremia due to Mycobacterium smegmatis.
abstract: Rapidly growing mycobacteria have occasionally been reported to cause catheter-related infections. We report a case of a central venous catheter-related bacteremia, caused by Mycobacterium smegmatis, in a patient with cancer. Cultures of the catheter tip and blood cultures grew M smegmatis and Enterococcus faecalis. The patient responded to catheter removal and a 3-month course of antibiotics (doxycycline and ciprofloxacin). Based on our experience and the reported experience with other rapidly growing mycobacteria, M smegmatis catheter-related bacteremia should be treated with catheter removal and a course of appropriate antibiotics, based on in vitro susceptibility testing.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9113, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Skiest
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Levi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium