Related Experiment Videos
Urinary tract infection caused by Mycobacterium terrae complex
1Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Tubercle and Lung Disease : the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
|December 1, 1996
Summary
Recurrent urinary tract infections caused by Mycobacterium terrae complex, a drug-resistant bacterium, occurred in a patient with obstructive nephropathy. Despite treatment, the patient succumbed to a secondary urinary sepsis from other pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Obstructive nephropathy presents a significant risk factor for complicated urinary tract infections.
- Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) necessitate thorough etiological investigation, especially in immunocompromised or debilitated patients.
Observation:
- A case of recurrent UTIs is presented in a patient with pre-existing obstructive nephropathy.
- The causative agent was identified as Mycobacterium terrae complex, a non-tuberculous mycobacterium.
- The identified mycobacterium exhibited resistance to multiple first-line antituberculosis drugs.
Findings:
- Despite antimicrobial therapy targeting the Mycobacterium terrae complex, leading to apparent urinary clearance, the patient's condition deteriorated.
- The patient ultimately died due to urinary sepsis, complicated by the presence of multiple bacterial pathogens.
Implications:
- This case highlights the challenges in managing drug-resistant mycobacterial UTIs in patients with underlying renal pathology.
- It underscores the critical importance of considering polymicrobial infections and the potential for secondary bacterial sepsis in complex UTI cases.
- The case emphasizes the need for vigilant monitoring and potentially broader antimicrobial coverage in patients with obstructive nephropathy and persistent or recurrent UTIs.