Mycobacterium abscessus urinary tract infection in an immunocompetent host: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Mycobacterium abscessus is one of the nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), which can cause many clinical spectra, predominantly pulmonary infections followed by skin and soft tissue infections. The prevalence of Mycobacterium abscessus infections has been growing worldwide over the last two decades. Urinary tract infection (UTI) secondary to M. abscessus is a rare condition, and only five cases have been described in the literature so far. Therefore, managing such a condition is challenging and based on limited evidence. Here, we report a case of an adult male with a history of previous urological procedures who presented with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and was found to have a UTI secondary to Mycobacterium abscessus. In this case, we described our successful management approach of this rare entity of Mycobacterium abscessus infection, and we reviewed similar cases in the literature.

Keywords

• Mycobacterium abscessus
• Nontuberculous mycobacteria
• Genitourinary infections
• Chronic kidney disease
• Clarithromycin
• Amikacin