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Primary pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium terrae complex
K K Krisher1, M C Kallay, F S Nolte
1Department of Microbiology, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York.
Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
|November 1, 1988
Summary
The Mycobacterium terrae complex, typically found in soil, rarely infects humans. This report details a rare case of primary pulmonary disease caused by Mycobacterium terrae in a young woman.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The Mycobacterium terrae complex comprises three saprophytic species: M. terrae, M. nonchromogenicum, and M. triviale.
- These mycobacteria are generally considered non-pathogenic to humans, residing in soil and environmental niches.
Observation:
- Human infections by the Mycobacterium terrae complex are exceptionally rare, with only six documented cases of respiratory involvement globally.
- This study presents a unique case of primary pulmonary disease attributed to the M. terrae complex.
Findings:
- The causative agent was identified as Mycobacterium terrae, a member of the M. terrae complex.
- The patient, a young woman with no prior health issues, developed primary lung disease.
Implications:
- This case expands the known spectrum of human diseases caused by the Mycobacterium terrae complex.
- Highlights the importance of considering environmental mycobacteria in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary infections, even in immunocompetent individuals.