<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><italic>Mycobacterium chimaera</italic> is the newly described species belonging to <italic>Mycobacterium avium</italic> complex (MAC), with morphology and growth characteristics closely related to <italic>Mycobacterium intracellulare</italic>. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the frequency and clinical significance of <italic>M. chimaera</italic> identification in the population of patients with previous positive respiratory cultures for <italic>M. intracellulare</italic> or MAC. 200 strains of <italic>M. intracellulare</italic> or MAC, isolated from respiratory specimens of patients hospitalized in pulmonary wards, between 2011 and 2020, were retrospectively analyzed with GenoType NTM-DR test. 88 (44%) of strains were re-classified to <italic>M. chimaera</italic> species. Analysis of clinical data in 30 patients with positive <italic>M. chimaera</italic> isolates revealed that they were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – 27%, past tuberculosis – 20%, or interstitial lung diseases – 17%, respectively. Non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTMLD) caused by <italic>M. chimaera</italic> has been recognized in 53% of patients, most often in those presenting with post-tuberculous lung lesions. <italic>M. chimaera</italic> was almost exclusively isolated from respiratory specimens of patients with underlying lung diseases, especially those with COPD and/or past tuberculosis. NTMLD due to <italic>M. chimaera</italic> was diagnosed predominantly in patients with past tuberculosis.</p></abstract>

Mycobacterium chimaera is the newly described species belonging to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), with morphology and growth characteristics closely related to Mycobacterium intracellulare. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the frequency and clinical significance of M. chimaera identification in the population of patients with previous positive respiratory cultures for M. intracellulare or MAC. 200 strains of M. intracellulare or MAC, isolated from respiratory specimens of patients hospitalized in pulmonary wards, between 2011 and 2020, were retrospectively analyzed with GenoType NTM-DR test. 88 (44%) of strains were re-classified to M. chimaera species. Analysis of clinical data in 30 patients with positive M. chimaera isolates revealed that they were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – 27%, past tuberculosis – 20%, or interstitial lung diseases – 17%, respectively. Non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTMLD) caused by M. chimaera has been recognized in 53% of patients, most often in those presenting with post-tuberculous lung lesions. M. chimaera was almost exclusively isolated from respiratory specimens of patients with underlying lung diseases, especially those with COPD and/or past tuberculosis. NTMLD due to M. chimaera was diagnosed predominantly in patients with past tuberculosis.

<italic>Mycobacterium chimaera</italic> as an Underestimated Cause of NTM Lung Diseases in Patients Hospitalized in Pulmonary Wards

Polish Journal of Microbiology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

 as an Underestimated Cause of NTM Lung Diseases in Patients Hospitalized in Pulmonary Wards

Mycobacterium chimaera is the newly described species belonging to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), with morphology and growth characteristics closely...

Mycobacterium chimaera as an Underestimated Cause of NTM Lung Diseases in Patients Hospitalized in Pulmonary Wards

Article Category: original-paper

Published Online: Sep 17, 2021

Page range: 315 - 320

Received: Mar 31, 2021

Accepted: Jul 08, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33073/pjm-2021-028

Keywords
chronic obstructive lung disease, cystic fibrosis, mycobacteriosis, tuberculosis

© 2021 Anna T. Zabost et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Mycobacterium chimaera as an Underestimated Cause of NTM Lung Diseases in Patients Hospitalized in Pulmonary Wards

Article Category: original-paper

Published Online: Sep 17, 2021

Page range: 315 - 320

Received: Mar 31, 2021

Accepted: Jul 08, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33073/pjm-2021-028

Keywordschronic obstructive lung disease, cystic fibrosis, mycobacteriosis, tuberculosis

© 2021 Anna T. Zabost et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
chronic obstructive lung disease, cystic fibrosis, mycobacteriosis, tuberculosis