Pulmonary infection by Mycobacterium gordonae in an immunocompromised patient

Mycobacterium gordonae, a scotochromogenic organism, is considered a saprophyte and isolation of this organism in sputum cultures is not generally considered clinically significant. We report the case of 70-yr-old man with Hodgkin's disease and pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium gordonae. The clinical and radiographic findings in this case and the course are outlined. Mycobacterium gordonae isolated from patients with debilitating diseases should not automatically be rejected as a contaminant.