PROBLEMS IN DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY OF MYCOBACTERIUM-FORTUITUM INFECTIONS

Abstract

M. fortuitum was isolated 11 times from 8 patients during a 6 yr period. Six of the isolates were from sputum; 1 was from aspiration of a lymph node and 4 were from wound cultures. The isolation from sputum was not believed to be associated with pulmonary infection in all 6 instances. The difficulty in diagnosis and therapy of infections with M. fortuitum is illustrated by these cases and by others from the literature. Amikacin and doxycycline may offer some therapeutic benefit for patients with M. fortuitum infections.