Misidentification of Mycobacterium peregrinum, the causal organism of a case of bacteremia and automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator-associated infection, due to its unusual acid-fast staining characteristics.
We report an unusual case of Mycobacterium peregrinum bacteremia and infection of an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator that was originally misidentified as a Nocardia sp. due, in part, to its partially acid-fast staining characteristic, morphology, and odor. The misdiagnosis had a direct effect on patient care, though the patient was subsequently successfully treated.
Short
William R
WR
Division of HIV Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Emery
Christopher
C
Bhandary
Mallika
M
O'Donnell
Judith A
JA
D000368:Aged; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D009615:Nocardia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009617:Nocardia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology