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Case Reports
. 2018 Jun 6;10(6):e2750.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.2750.

Mycobacterium Chimaera: A Rare Presentation

Jeffrey A Miskoff  1 , Moiuz Chaudhri  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Mycobacterium Chimaera: A Rare Presentation

Jeffrey A Miskoff et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Mycobacterium chimaera is an indolent nontuberculous mycobacterium which is abundant in soil, dust, and water. Although lacking recognition garnered by other mycobacteria (i.e., M. tuberculosis), it has been recognized as an emerging opportunistic threat to patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery and open heart procedures requiring extracorporeal devices. Here, we present a case of an individual initially seen in the inpatient setting without a history of such procedures or other risk factors commonly associated with mycobacterium-laden infections.

Keywords: case report; coronary bypass surgery; dna polymerase chain reaction; heater-cooler; mycobacterium; mycobacterium avium complex-mac; open heart procedures; opportunistic infections; primary care.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Computed tomographic angiography (
CTA of the patient's chest illustrating cavitation extending up to the pleural surface, along with patchy reticulonodular infiltrates (yellow arrows).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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