The following text is from an archived Red Book® edition and may not reflect current recommendations or information. To view the current edition, click here.
Section 3. Summaries of Infectious Diseases
Diseases Caused by Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
(Atypical Mycobacteria, Mycobacteria Other Than Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
Clinical Manifestations
Etiology
Epidemiology
Diagnostic Tests
Treatment
Isolation of the Hospitalized Patient
Control Measures
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: Several syndromes are caused by nontuberculous
mycobacteria (NTM). In children, the most common of these syndromes
is cervical lymphadenitis. Less common infections include cutaneous
infection, osteomyelitis, otitis media, central catheter infections,
and pulmonary disease. Disseminated infections almost always
are associated with impaired cell-mediated immunity, as found
in congenital immune defects or human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) infection. Manifestations of disseminated NTM infections
depend on the species and route of infection but include fever,
night sweats, weight loss, abdominal pain, fatigue, diarrhea,
and anemia. Nontuberculous mycobacteria, especially
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC [including
M avium and
Mycobacterium intracellulare])
and
Mycobacterium abscessus, can be recovered from sputum in
10% to 20% of adolescents and young adults with cystic fibrosis
and can be associated with fever and declining clinical status.
ETIOLOGY: Of the almost 100 species of NTM that have been identified,
only a few account for most human infections. The species most
commonly encountered in infected children in the United States
are MAC,
Mycobacterium fortuitum, M abscessus, and
Mycobacterium marinum (see Table 3.76, p 699). Several new species that can
be detected by nucleic acid amplification testing but cannot
be grown by routine culture methods have been identified in
lymph nodes of children with cervical adenitis. Nontuberculous
mycobacteria disease in patients with HIV infection usually
is caused by MAC.
Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium chelonae,
and
M abscessus commonly are referred to as "rapidly growing"
mycobacteria, because sufficient growth and identification can
be achieved in the laboratory within 3 to 7 days, whereas other
NTM and
Mycobacterium tuberculosis often require weeks before
sufficient growth occurs. Rapidly
. . . [Go to Full Text]
Related Articles
-
Tuberculosis
Red Book 2006 2006: 678-698.
[Extract]
[Full Text]
-
Introduction
Red Book 2006 2006: 735.
[Extract]
[Full Text]
Top
Next