title: Mycobacterium abscessus - to treat or not to treat.
abstract: A patient with Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease was mistaken to have pulmonary tuberculosis with airway colonization by the non-tuberculous mycobacterium. Appropriate antibiotics were only given when the patient's signs and symptoms worsened while on anti-tuberculosis therapy. Despite treatment with a combination of antibiotics showing in vitro susceptibility, the pathogen persisted in the respiratory secretions for longer than 6 months and the patient suffered a spontaneous pneumothorax 14 months into treatment. This case illustrates the chronic course of M. abscessus lung infection, the tendency for flare-ups, the inadequacy of current treatment regimens, and the necessity for prolonged patient follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Medical Centre, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yong-Kek
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Medical Centre, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yun-Fong
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ngeow
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Medical Centre, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yan-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Medical Centre, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chong-Kin
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Liam
keywords: Indolent infection; Mycobacterium abscessus; non-tuberculous mycobacterium; sensitivity test; treatment regimen