Primary pulmonary botryomycosis. A manifestation of chronic granulomatous disease

A 19-year-old woman with a childhood history of cavitating left upper lobe pneumonia presented with persistent weight loss, fever, cough and roentgenographic evidence of right upper lobe pneumonia resistant to antibiotic therapy. An open lung biopsy led to the diagnosis of botryomycosis. Neutrophil function studies including flow cytometric evaluation of oxidative burst, bacterial killing and evaluation of neutrophil cytosolic proteins required for oxidase activation were consistent with chronic granulomatous disease. This is the first case report of primary pulmonary botryomycosis as a clinical manifestation of CGD. Other recent cases of immunodeficiency states associated with botryomycosis are reviewed.