Disseminated Mycobacterium scrofulaceum Infection in a Patient with Anti-Interferon-γ Autoantibodies: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Mycobacterium scrofulaceum is an environmental mycobacterial species rarely reported to cause disseminated infection in adults. We report the case of a disseminated M. scrofulaceum infection in a 55-year-old nonhuman immunodeficiency virus-infected Thai man with anti-interferon-γ autoantibodies. The clinical signs of the infection improved after the induction regimen with amikacin, rifampicin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin, followed by the consolidation regimen with ethambutol, clarithromycin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Our review of previous reported cases of this infection indicates its association with immune deficiency, complex treatment, and a high rate of unfavorable outcomes.

Keywords

• anti-interferon-γ autoantibodies
• disseminated infection
• mycobacterium scrofulaceum
• thai