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Stem Cells Transl Med 2021 May 4. Epub 2021 May 4.

Department of Biology, Skeletal Research Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Chronic nontuberculous mycobacterial infections with Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare complicate bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive airway disease, and the health of aging individuals. These insidious intracellular pathogens cause considerable morbidity and eventual mortality in individuals colonized with these bacteria. Current treatment regimens with antibiotic macrolides are both toxic and often inefficient at providing infection resolution. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 Apr;100(17):e25283

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine.

Abstract: We report the clinical results and problems of combined administration of rifampicin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin (REC) for the treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection of the hand (hand MAC).Participants included 7 patients with hand MAC. After resection of the infected lesion, REC was prescribed for 12 months. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2021 Apr 24;21(1):381. Epub 2021 Apr 24.

Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, P.O. box 7804, N-5020, Bergen, Norway.

Background: There is scarce knowledge on the prevalence of diseases caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in Pakistan. In the absence of culture and identification, acid-fast bacilli (AFB) causing NTM disease are liable to be misinterpreted as tuberculosis (TB). Introduction of nucleic acid amplification testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) offers improved diagnostic accuracy, compared with smear microscopy, and also assists in differentiating MTBC from other mycobacteria. Read More

Cureus 2021 Feb 24;13(2):e13533. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

General Surgery, Lebanese American University-Medical Center, Beirut, LBN.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a small-vessel vasculitis with cutaneous, articular, gastrointestinal, and renal manifestations. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis and IgA deposits are classically found when involved skin and kidneys are biopsied. The disease's etiology remains unknown, although many bacterial and viral infections have been described as triggering factors. Read More

Cureus 2021 Feb 21;13(2):e13469. Epub 2021 Feb 21.

Internal Medicine, Westside Regional Medical Center, Plantation, USA.

Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) is an opportunistic infection that typically manifests itself as pulmonary infection. In immunocompromised patients, however, MAI can uncommonly cause disseminated disease and diffuse gastrointestinal involvement. Small bowel obstruction with concurrent MAI infection is rarely documented in literature. Read More

Med Clin (Barc) 2021 Mar 22. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Servicio de Hematología Clínica. Institut Català d'Oncologia - Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona (Barcelona), Spain.

Respirol Case Rep 2021 Apr 8;9(4):e0734. Epub 2021 Mar 8.

Department of Respiratory Medicine Fukujuji Hospital, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association Kiyose Japan.

complex (MAC)-infected lung bulla was a rare type of pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection. A 29-year-old man with a history of tetralogy of Fallot was admitted to our hospital because of a high fever and left chest pain. Chest computed tomography showed two bullae with intrabullous fluid in both the lower lobes and centrilobular small nodular shadow in the right upper lobe and the left lower lobe. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2021 Mar 16;21(1):264. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Shanghai Clinic and Research Center of Tuberculosis, Department of Tuberculosis, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, No. 507 Zhengmin Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.

Background: Rapid identification of pathogenic Mycobacterium species is critical for a successful treatment. However, traditional method is time-consuming and cannot discriminate isolated non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) at species level. In the retrospective study, we evaluated the clinical applicability of PCR-reverse blot hybridization assay (PCR-REBA Myco-ID) with clinical specimens for rapid detection and differentiation of mycobacterial species. Read More

Clin Drug Investig 2021 Apr 16;41(4):405-412. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Springer Nature, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand.

Amikacin liposome inhalation suspension (ALIS) [Arikayce Liposomal (EU); Arikayce (USA)], a liposomal suspension of the aminoglycoside amikacin (590 mg) for nebulization via the Lamira Nebulizer System, is available as add-on therapy for treatment-refractory Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease in adults who have little or no alternative treatment options. Its addition to guideline-based therapy (GBT) significantly improved the likelihood of achieving sputum culture conversion (defined as three consecutive monthly MAC-negative sputum cultures) by month 6 relative to GBT alone in adults with treatment-refractory MAC lung disease, with the conversion response maintained over up to 12 months' therapy and at 3 months' post treatment in significantly higher proportions of ALIS plus GBT than GBT alone recipients. ALIS as an add-on therapy to GBT was associated with an increased risk of respiratory adverse reactions compared with GBT alone, but treatment-emergent adverse events associated with systemic amikacin exposure were uncommon. Read More

Ann Ig 2021 Mar-Apr;33(2):189-197

Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria are pervasive microorganisms and are often present as saprophytes in humans, animals, and the environment. Today, these bacteria are known as the most important environmental opportunists and, in the last decades, infections by nontuberculous mycobacteria have multiplied, due to increased immunodeficiency (cancer, transplant recipients, HIV).

Study Design: This study aimed to investigate the infections by nontuberculous mycobacteria in transplanted patients. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Jan 28;14(1). Epub 2021 Jan 28.

Pulmonary/Critical Care, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA

Anti-interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) autoantibodies has been recognised as an adult-onset immunodeficiency in the past decade in people who originate from Southeast Asia. These patients are susceptible to particular opportunistic infections, especially non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). We present the case of a woman whom originally came from Thailand with disseminated complex infection (pleural, pericardium, bloodstream and lung parenchymal involvement). Read More

Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi 2020 Dec;43(12):1112-1116

Front Vet Sci 2020 4;7:569966. Epub 2020 Nov 4.

Belli Lisi Studio Veterinario, Monterotondo, Italy.

complex infections are becoming an increasing concern in veterinary medicine because they affect livestock, wildlife, and companion animals. Here we describe the isolation, molecular typing, and antibiotic susceptibility testing of the causative agent of a rare case of generalized mycobacteriosis in a crossbred dog. Mycobacterial colonies were isolated from a popliteal lymph node aspirate sample and molecular typed by SNPs typing of the genes and , the 3' region of the gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and MIRU-VNTR analysis. Read More

PLoS One 2020 30;15(11):e0242598. Epub 2020 Nov 30.

Cellular and Molecular Immunology Unit, Centre for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Detection of IgA antibody against Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) glycopeptidolipid (GPL) has recently been shown to improve the diagnosis of MAC pulmonary disease but has yet to be tested in disseminated Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection. In this study, we address the diagnostic efficacies of an anti-GPL-core ELISA kit in disseminated lymphadenopathy patients positive for NTM culture and anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies. The study was conducted in a tertiary referral center in northeastern Thailand and patients with NTM, tuberculosis, melioidosis, and control subjects were enrolled. Read More

Drug Discov Ther 2021 Jan 30;14(6):287-295. Epub 2020 Nov 30.

Department of Natural Product Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.

In vivo-mimic silkworm infection models with Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare were newly established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of anti-M. avium complex (MAC) antibiotics. Silkworms raised at 37°C died within 72 hours of an injection of M. Read More

Intern Med J 2020 11;50(11):1431-1432

Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

BMC Infect Dis 2020 Nov 11;20(1):828. Epub 2020 Nov 11.

Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Geriatrics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.

Background: Severe and disseminated non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections are frequently linked to a genetic predisposition but acquired defects of the interferon gamma (IFNγ) / interleukin 12 (IL-12) pathway need to be considered in adult patients with persistent or recurrent infections. Neutralizing anti-IFNγ autoantibodies disrupting IFNγ signalling have been identified as the cause of a severe and unique acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with increased susceptibility to NTM and other intracellular pathogens.

Case Presentation: An adult Asian female with a previous history of recurrent NTM infections presented with persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, night sweats and weight loss. Read More

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2020 09;24(9):922-927

Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Disseminated complex infection (DMAC) has symptoms and microscopic findings similar to those of TB in HIV patients. To inform a clinical algorithm-based differential diagnosis, we aimed to characterise the clinical features of DMAC. This was a retrospective cohort study of 192 HIV-positive patients with culture-confirmed mycobacterial infections hospitalised during 1996-2016 at a major HIV/AIDS treatment centre in Taiwan. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Nov 3;13(11). Epub 2020 Nov 3.

Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.

We describe a case of a 30-year-old previously healthy woman who presented to our hospital with a 2-month history of fevers, tender lymphadenopathy, dysphagia, globus sensation and occasional haematemesis. Further evaluation revealed cervicothoracic adenopathy and a subcarinal mass with oesophageal involvement. Imaging showed a transesophageal fistula at the level of the carina with contrast extravasation to the left main bronchus. Read More

Molecules 2020 Oct 27;25(21). Epub 2020 Oct 27.

Department of Microbial Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan.

Among four mycobacteria, , , BCG and () , we established a silkworm infection assay with . When silkworms (fifth-instar larvae, = 5) were infected through the hemolymph with (7.5 × 10 CFU/larva) and bred at 37 °C, they all died around 40 h after injection. Read More

Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2020 Sep 6;71(3):223-230. Epub 2020 Oct 6.

University of Rijeka Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Rijeka, Croatia.

Acanthamoeba is an opportunistic protozoon, widespread in the aquatic environment, where it can be in endosymbiosis with over 30 pathogenic bacteria, including nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Protozoa play a crucial role in mycobacterial pathogenesis and serve as a reservoir of infection. Since the first step in bacteria making contact with amoebae is adhesion, we were interested in investigating whether essential oils (EOs) can affect it. Read More

Ann Diagn Pathol 2020 Dec 8;49:151638. Epub 2020 Oct 8.

Gastroenterology Unit, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAIC) is a nontuberculous opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is usually part of a disseminated disease in AIDS patients with a low CD4 count, however with standard antiretroviral therapy (ART), a localized presentation is more likely. It can affect any part of the GIT, mostly the duodenum and typically as patches. Read More

Am J Med Sci 2021 03 10;361(3):e31-e32. Epub 2020 Sep 10.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Elmhurst Hospital Center, Elmhurst, NY, United States.

Int J Infect Dis 2020 Nov 2;100:196-198. Epub 2020 Sep 2.

National Clinical Laboratory on Tuberculosis, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, PR China. Electronic address:

Objectives: The World Health Organization recommends the use of bedaquiline (BDQ) to formulate efficacious combination regimens against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). This study reports, for the first time, a case series of MDR-TB patients treated with BDQ who experienced sputum culture reconversion due to emergence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections.

Methods: A multicentre case series was established, including patients who started treatment for laboratory-confirmed MDR-TB between January 1, 2018 and March 31, 2020. Read More

Rev Mal Respir 2020 Nov 1;37(9):752-755. Epub 2020 Sep 1.

Service de pneumologie, oncologie thoracique et allergologie respiratoire, CHU de Besançon, 3, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon cedex, France.

Introduction: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease due to an immunological reaction to exposure, by inhalation, to a large variety of antigens. The patho-physiological mechanism remains poorly understood. The diagnosis can be challenging and requires a detailed medical history taking especially when the clinical presentation is atypical or when the causal agent remains unknown. Read More

Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica 2020 Apr-Jun;37(2):361-366. Epub 2020 Aug 28.

Instituto de Investigaciones de la Altura, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú.

We present the case of an immunocompetent patient whose illness began at age 49 with a cough, followed by purulent and hemoptoic sputum; bronchiectasis was diagnosed. Three years later, after hemoptysis, she underwent medial segmentectomy of the middle lobe and was asymptomatic for months. When tuberculosis was found in the pathology report, she was treated with 4HREZ2R2H2. Read More

Respir Med Case Rep 2020 6;31:101184. Epub 2020 Aug 6.

Pneumology Department, Centro Médico Imbanaco, Cali, Colombia.

We describe a case of a 65-year-old male with recently diagnosed diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis associated with usual interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary hypertension. Patient presented to the emergency department complaining of low-grade fever, increased sputum production, progressive dyspnea and weight loss. High-resolution computed tomography scan showed multifocal bronchiectasis with multiple small nodules. Read More

Front Public Health 2020 28;8:295. Epub 2020 Jul 28.

College of Pharmacy, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China.

China is a high-burden country of tuberculosis. The proportion of diseases caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has increased, seriously affecting the prevention, control, and management of tuberculosis (TB) and posing a significant threat to human health. However, there is a lack of an organized monitoring system for NTM such as that used for tuberculosis. Read More

J Infect Dis 2020 08;222(Suppl 4):S199-S211

Professor of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine Professor of Public Health, School of Public Health Oregon Health and Science University Portland, OR, USA.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous in the environment and an important cause of disease. The most common species causing pulmonary disease are members of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). MAC pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) can be chronic, debilitating, costly, and associated with a high mortality. Read More

Intern Med 2020 Dec 12;59(24):3195-3200. Epub 2020 Aug 12.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagoya City West Medical Center, Japan.

A 68-year-old man visited our hospital due to anorexia, weight loss and a fever. We diagnosed the patient with disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and confirmed the presence of interferon (IFN)-γ neutralizing autoantibodies (IFN-γAb). His lesions improved following antibiotic therapy, but chylous ascites (CA) developed seven months after treatment. Read More