A PULMONARY INFECTION CAUSED BY MYCOBACTERIUM PEREGRINUM– A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Mycobacterium peregrinum is a member of the group of rapidly growing Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). It can be found in high frequency in natural and laboratory environments and is considered to be uncommonrare pathogen for both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed individuals. Currently, pulmonary infections caused by Mycobacte-rium peregrinum are unusual and diagnosed only in limited number of cases. Here, we present a clinical case of elderly man (72 years) with 1 month history of non-specific respiratory symptomatic. The patient was without underlying immunosuppres-sive condition or lung disease. Chest X-ray demonstrated persistent pleural effusion, opacities and cavitations in the right lobe. One of the sputum culturesgrewa rapidly growing my-cobacterium and the isolated strain was found to be Myco-bacterium peregrinumas identified by molecular genetic detection (PCR and DNA strip technology). To our knowledge, this is the third case in the world to report Mycobacterium peregrinumas a possible causative agent of pulmonary infection.