The Journal of infection
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The Journal of infection · Jun 2012
Case ReportsPulmonary Mycobacterium abscessus: a canary in the cystic fibrosis coalmine.
We present a case of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection (PNTM) with M. abscessus. After exclusion of genetic immune disorders known to cause NTM susceptibility, we found compound heterozygosity of two mutations, F508del and R117H in CFTR. ⋯ Although the patient was continuously treated for her lung infection by different physicians for more than twenty years, the diagnosis CF had been missed. The forme fruste of CF should be considered in the analysis of host factors predisposing for PNTM.