Mycobacterium abscessus Meningitis Associated with Stem Cell Treatment During Medical Tourism

Abstract

Mycobacterium abscessus infections have been reported as adverse events related to medical tourism. We report M. abscessus meningitis in a patient who traveled from Colorado, USA, to Mexico to receive intrathecal stem cell injections as treatment for multiple sclerosis. We also review the management of this challenging central nervous system infection.

Keywords

• Mycobacterium abscessus
• meningitis/encephalitis
• medical tourism
• stem cells
• nontuberculous mycobacterium infections
• multiple sclerosis