Clinical and chest radiographic findings among persons with sputum culture positive for Mycobacterium gordonae: a review of 19 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical and radiographic findings associated with growth of Mycobacterium gordonae in cultured sputum and to determine the proportion of cases that fulfill criteria for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease as established by the American Thoracic Society.


METHODS
A retrospective review of charts and radiographs of all patients from whom M gordonae was isolated from sputum cultures between November 1996 and June 1998.


METHODS
University-affiliated Veterans Affairs hospital.


METHODS
Nineteen patients were identified with sputum culture positive for M gordonae. All patients had a chest radiograph within 1 month of sputum culture.


RESULTS
Sixteen patients (84%) had suppressed local and/or general immunity. Sixteen patients (84%) had respiratory symptoms, weight loss, fever, or night sweats as an indication for chest radiography. Seventeen patients (89%) had abnormal chest radiographs; however, no typical radiographic pattern was observed. No patient met diagnostic criteria for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease as delineated by the American Thoracic Society. All patients with abnormal chest radiographs and/or respiratory symptoms ultimately had alternative explanations for their pulmonary disease.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a broad spectrum of chest radiographic findings among persons with sputum culture positive for M gordonae, arguing against the presence of a characteristic chest radiograph in this patient population. M gordonae is usually a nonpathogenic colonizing organism, even among persons with local or general immune suppression and abnormal chest radiograph findings.
Eckburg
P B
PB
Medical Service, Pulmonary Section, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Buadu
E O
EO
Stark
P
P
Sarinas
P S
PS
Chitkara
R K
RK
Kuschner
W G
WG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*