[Pulmonary infection caused by a rare mycobacterium, Mycobacterium malmoënse]

The present case report is on a patient treated for tubercle in 1949 by an artificial pneumothorax. Thirty three years after the initial illness some radiological changes occurred suggesting a recurrence, especially as a bacteriological examination showed the presence of acid-alcohol fast bacilli on direct smear. Triple therapy (Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Streptomycin) was then prescribed, and was followed by a radiological improvement, even though the sputum remained positive. After multiple seedings, it was possible to isolate from 11 tubes and 2 expectorations a rare strain of mycobacterium: mycobacterium malmoense. The present observation seems to be the first indisputable French case of infection by this bacterium. From the opportunity presented by this observation the bacteriological characteristic of this mycobacterium, as well as the clinic aspects of the infection are discussed.