Genitourinary infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria at a university hospital in Taiwan, 1996-2008
Journal
Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Journal Volume
16
Journal Issue
10
Pages
1585-1590
Date Issued
2010
Author(s)
Abstract
Genitourinary infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are rarely reported. The medical records of all patients with genitourinary NTM infections treated at National Taiwan University Hospital from 1996-2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifteen patients were identified, of whom 10 (67%) were male. More than two-thirds of patients had underlying conditions, the most common of which was chronic renal disease. Only one patient had AIDS. Acid-fast smears of urine were negative in all patients. Eleven isolates were available for further confirmation by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Mycobacterium avium complex was the most common (n = 5, 33%), followed by both Mycobacterium abscessus (n = 2; 13%) and Mycobacterium fortuitum (n = 2; 13%). Of the 12 patients receiving anti-NTM treatment, only four received adequate prescribed regimens and none died of NTM infections. Two patients died of refractory urosepsis before the urinary NTM infections were diagnosed. The clinical characteristics of the 15 patients were also compared with 43 previously reported patients with genitourinary tuberculosis. Patients with genitourinary NTM infections were more likely to report constitutional symptoms, seek medical help within 1 month after the onset of symptoms and develop leukocytosis. Patients with genitourinary tuberculosis were more likely to have ureteral strictures and abnormal chest radiographs associated with active or inactive tuberculosis. Although rare, genitourinary NTM infections pose a significant threat to life and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of genitourinary infections, especially when patients are unresponsive to conventional antibiotic treatment. ? 2010 The Authors. Journal Compilation ? 2010 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
SDGs
Other Subjects
amikacin; cilastatin plus imipenem; ciprofloxacin; clarithromycin; ethambutol; hemoglobin; prostate specific antigen; rifampicin; RNA 16S; abscess; adult; aged; anemia; article; atypical mycobacteriosis; bacterium identification; bacterium isolate; cause of death; clinical article; clinical feature; controlled study; differential diagnosis; dysuria; female; flank pain; gene sequence; help seeking behavior; hematuria; hemoglobin blood level; human; hydronephrosis; hypoalbuminemia; kidney cyst; laboratory diagnosis; leukocyte count; leukocytosis; male; mycobacteriosis; Mycobacterium; Mycobacterium abscessus; Mycobacterium avium; Mycobacterium fortuitum; Mycobacterium gordonae; nucleotide sequence; priority journal; prostatitis; proteinuria; pyuria; species identification; surgical drainage; Taiwan; thorax radiography; university hospital; ureter stent; ureter stricture; urinary frequency; urine culture; urogenital tract infection; urogenital tuberculosis; urosepsis; Corynebacterineae; Mycobacterium abscessus; Mycobacterium avium complex; Mycobacterium fortuitum
Type
journal article