title: Pulmonary Mycobacterium abscessus in an AIDS patient.
abstract: Mycobacterium abscessus is an unusual pathogen in HIV/AIDS patients. We report a case of M abscessus with review of the literature, which revealed 1 confirmed case in an HIV/AIDS patient. Preliminary diagnosis was presumed to be pulmonary tuberculosis secondary to positive acid-fast bacilli in sputum stain. After initial treatment failure, sputum stains were repeated, and the species was identified; therefore the antibiotic regimen was tailored for M abscessus. Early recognition and treatment of nontuberculous mycobacteria is vital in the reduction of complications and mortality in HIV/AIDS patients. M abscessus is a highly virulent and should be considered as a potential offending pathogen on differential diagnosis in an immunocompromised host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA. jlbenwil@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Jeana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benwill
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babineaux
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sarria
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents