Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy
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J. Infect. Chemother. · Oct 2015
Case ReportsMycobacterium fortuitum thoracic empyema: A case report and review of the literature.
Mycobacterium fortuitum is a rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium. This microorganism is an uncommon etiological agent of lung lesions; among lung lesions caused by M. fortuitum, thoracic empyema is particularly rare. A 61-year-old man who had been treated for chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure with noninvasive ventilation was admitted because of breathing difficulty and was found to have M. fortuitum thoracic empyema. ⋯ The thoracic empyema may have developed via a pulmonary fistula in this case. This case highlights the fact that we must be aware of the possibility of M. fortuitum thoracic empyema, especially in patients with M. fortuitum lung infection and treatment with noninvasive ventilation. Multidrug therapy may be effective and important to the resolution of M. fortuitum thoracic empyema.