title: Clinical and radiological features of pulmonary disease caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria in cancer patients.
abstract: The role of rapidly growing mycobacteria in the pathogenesis of pulmonary disease is being increasingly recognized; however, the clinical significance of these mycobacteria in patients with underlying malignancy has not been well studied. Over a 6-year period, 37 cancer patients with rapidly growing mycobacteria isolated from respiratory specimens were identified at our center. Mycobacterium chelonae group was isolated in 24 cases and Mycobacterium fortuitum in 13 cases. Of the 24 cases with cultures yielding Mycobacterium chelonae group, eight met the study criteria for infection and were determined to be clinically significant, whereas only one of the Mycobacterium fortuitum isolates was determined to represent infection. An average of two antimicrobial agents were used for treatment, most commonly clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Although the isolation of rapidly growing mycobacteria represents colonization in most cases, these bacteria, especially the Mycobacterium chelonae group, may cause pulmonary disease in cancer patients. The clinical and radiological findings are usually non-specific in this population, and patients with respiratory cultures yielding rapidly growing mycobacteria should be assessed carefully to distinguish infection from colonization. Effective therapy can be provided with oral regimens that include at least two antibiotics to which the organism is susceptible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Specialties, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Libshitz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Whimbey
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rolston
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abi-Said
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Raad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019907:Mycobacterium fortuitum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents