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Book

Mycobacterium kansasii Infection

Sami M. Akram  1 , Prashanth Rawla  2
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Book

Mycobacterium kansasii Infection

Sami M. Akram et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

Mycobacterium kansasii is a non-tuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM) that is readily recognized based on its characteristic photochromogenicity; it produces a yellow pigment when exposed to light.

Buhler and Pollack first described this slow-growing mycobacterium in 1953. Under light microscopy, M. kansasii appears as thick rectangular, beaded, gram-positive rods which are longer than those of M. tuberculosis. Clinically, M. kansasii causes a chronic, upper-lobe cavitary disease, resembling that from M. tuberculosis. The prevalence of NTM infections has steadily increased when compared to tuberculosis whose prevalence has decreased in the last few decades. There is no clear data regarding the prevalence of M. kansasii, although some studies have in fact shown decreasing prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Sami Akram declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Prashanth Rawla declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

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