Atypical mycobacterial infection, a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge-Case report and review of literature

Abstract

As atypical mycobacterial disease is very difficult to be differentiated from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, mycobacterial culture results can be the corner stone to solve the problem and avoid the un-necessary suffering of the patient and in the same time it helps in prescribing the correct drug regime for the patient. Here we present a case of a 23-year-old female who underwent LUCS one year back that was complicated with development of multiple abdominal wall abscesses. Initially she was treated with a combination of intermittent surgical drainage and prolonged antibiotic course, later antitubercular drugs were put on based on the positive AFB smear and biopsy report. This case is of interest that Mycobacterium abscessus was isolated from the patient who was improved after therapy with sensitive drugs. Our case highlights the fact that NTM disease should be put into consideration in patients with positive AFB smear and requires referral of samples to specialized microbiology laboratories.

Keywords

• Atypical mycobacterial infection
• diagnostic challenge
• positive AFB smear