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. 2021 Sep;70(3):315-320.
doi: 10.33073/pjm-2021-028. Epub 2021 Sep 17.

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

Anna T Zabost  1 , Monika Szturmowicz  2 , Sylwia A Brzezińska  1 , Magdalena D Klatt  1 , Ewa M Augustynowicz-Kopeć  1
Affiliations

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

Anna T Zabost et al. Pol J Microbiol. 2021 Sep.

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.

Keywords: Mycobacterium chimaera; chronic obstructive lung disease; cystic fibrosis; mycobacteriosis; tuberculosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest The authors do not report any financial or personal connections with other persons or organizations, which might negatively affect the contents of this publication and/or claim authorship rights to this publication.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Results of M. chimaera identification in 200 respiratory samples.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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