A case of Mycobacterium abscessus pneumonia in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Yim, Jae Joon; Oh, Myoung Don; Yoo, Chul Gyu; Song, Yeong Wook; Kim, Young Whan; Seo, Jung Wook; Han, Sung Gu; Choe, Kang Won; Shim, Young Soo

doi:1999.46.1.96

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 46(1); 1999 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1999;46(1):96-102.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1999.46.1.96 Published online January 1, 1999.

A case of Mycobacterium abscessus pneumonia in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Jae Joon Yim, Myoung Don Oh, Chul Gyu Yoo, Yeong Wook Song, Young Whan Kim, Jung Wook Seo, Sung Gu Han, Kang Won Choe, Young Soo Shim

¹Department of Internal Medicine,Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Korea.
²Department of Pathology,Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Korea.
³Lung Institute, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Korea.

Abstract

A 40-year-old female presented with fever and cough which had lasted for 3 months. Three years previously systemic lupus erythematosus had been diagnosed, and at that time 10mg of prednisone per day was prescribed. Crackles were heard at the base of the lung and her chest roentgenogram revealed diffuse infitrates in both lower lung fields. Despite of empirical antibiotics and antituberculous medication consisting of iosniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol, the patients condition deteriorated. We performed open lung biosy and numerous nodules with necrosis as well as acid fast bacilli were observed. After biochemical tests and sequencing , the organism was identified as Mycobacterium abscessus. The patient was treated with imipenem and amikacin; patients condition, as indicated by both symptoms and roentogenogram, subsequently improved.

Key Words: Nontuberculous Mycobacterium, Mycobacterium abscessus, pneumonia, systemic lupus erythematosus