Mycobacterium abscessus (patient information)
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Mycobacterium abscessus |
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Mycobacterium abscessus On the Web |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Mycobacterium abscessus |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Rim Halaby, M.D. [2]
Overview
M. abscessus can cause a variety of infections. Healthcare-associated infections due to this bacterium are usually of the skin and the soft tissues under the skin. It is also a cause of serious lung infections in persons with various chronic lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis.
What are the symptoms of Mycobacterium abscessus infection?
Skin infected with M. abscessus is usually red, warm, tender to the touch, swollen, and/or painful. Infected areas can also develop boils or pus-filled vesicles. Other signs of M. abscessus infection are fever, chills, muscle aches, and a general feeling of illness. However, for a definite diagnosis, the organism has to be cultured from the infection site or, in severe cases, from a blood culture. A medical provider should evaluate the infection to determine if it may be due to M. abscessus.
What causes Mycobacterium abscessus infection?
Mycobacterium abscessus is a bacterium distantly related to the ones that cause tuberculosis and leprosy. It is part of a group known as rapidly growing mycobacteria and is found in water, soil, and dust. It has been known to contaminate medications and products, including medical devices.
Who is at highest risk?
People with open wounds or who receive injections without appropriate skin disinfection may be at risk for infection by M. abscessus. Rarely, individuals with underlying respiratory conditions or impaired immune systems are at risk of lung infection.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Patients should seek urgent medical care when they have rapidly progressive symptoms.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made by growing this bacterium in the laboratory from a sample of the pus or biopsy of the infected area. When the infection is severe, the bacterium can be found in the blood and isolated from a blood sample. To make the diagnosis, your healthcare provider will have to take a sample from the infected area and/or blood and send it to a laboratory for identification. It is important that persons who have any evidence of infection at a site where they received procedures, such as surgery or injections, let their doctors know so the appropriate tests can be done.
Treatment options
Treatment of infections due to M. abscessus consists of draining collections of pus or removing the infected tissue and administering the appropriate combination of antibiotics for a prolonged period of time. Infection with this bacterium usually does not improve with the usual antibiotics used to treat skin infections. Testing the bacteria against different antibiotics is helpful in guiding doctors to the most appropriate treatment for each patient.
Where to find medical care for Mycobacterium abscessus infection?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Mycobacterium abscessus
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Minor infections with M. abscessus can resolve either spontaneously or following surgical debridement.[1] The majority of pulmonary M. abscessus infection are chronic and incurable. When pulmonary M. abscessus infection occurs in the absence of any predisposing conditions, the course of the disease is slowly progressive and indolent. Whereas, when the pulmonary infection is associated with underlying predisposing factors, such as gastrointestinal or pulmonary conditions, the disease is rapidly progressive and fulminant.[2]
Prevention
Anyone who touches or cares for the infected site should wash their hands carefully with soap and water. Patients should follow all instructions given by their healthcare provider following any surgery or medical procedure. Avoid receiving procedures or injections by unlicensed persons.
Sources
CDC Mycobacterium abscessus in Healthcare Settings
References
- ↑ Griffith DE, Aksamit T, Brown-Elliott BA, Catanzaro A, Daley C, Gordin F; et al. (2007). "An official ATS/IDSA statement: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases". Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 175 (4): 367–416. doi:10.1164/rccm.200604-571ST. PMID 17277290.
- ↑ Griffith DE, Girard WM, Wallace RJ (1993). "Clinical features of pulmonary disease caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria. An analysis of 154 patients". Am Rev Respir Dis. 147 (5): 1271–8. doi:10.1164/ajrccm/147.5.1271. PMID 8484642.