Lung Infection Caused by Mycobacterium Fortuitum

Mycobacterium fortuitum is a rare cause of pulmonary infection. It is a non-tuberculous mycobacterium (acid fast bacillus) that mainly affects the joints, lymphatic system, eyes, and skin. Mycobacterium fortuitum is a rapidly replicating non-tuberculous mycobacterium with the ability to form colonies in one week. It is resistant to fist line anti-tuberculous drugs [1]. The incidence of mycobacterium fortuitum infections has been reported to be on the rise worldwide [1]. It mainly affects the joints, lymphatic system, eyes and skin [2].

The detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory sputum or bronchoscopy samples does not always indicate the presence of active lung infection [2]. Therefore, when investigating patients that test positive for mycobacterium fortuitum, many guidelines recommend usage of the same diagnostic triad used to diagnosis pulmonary tuberculosis (clinical, imaging and radiographic features).