Rhodococcus and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: masquerade or mixed infection.
Rhodocci have a morphology similar to that of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB), and are indistinguishable from normal diphtheroid flora. Symptoms include fever, productive/non-productive cough and pleuritic chest pain. Rhodococcal infections, being resistant to routine anti-tuberculosis medications, may be misdiagnosed as drug-resistant TB, thus prompting treatment for TB with rifampicin-containing regimens that promote the emergence of resistance. We present here a sputum smear AFB-positive case who, although clinically cured, remains unresolved despite a series of technological investigations as to the cause of infection being purely rhodococci or mixed infection with M. tuberculosis.
Foundation for Medical Research, Mumbai, India. frchbom@bom2.vsnl.net.in
N F
NF
Mistry
Y
Y
Dholakia
D T B
DT
D'Souza
M
M
Taylor
S
S
Hoffner
T J
TJ
Birdi
D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial