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Volume 10, Number 10—October 2004
Dispatch

Mycobacterium triplex Pulmonary Disease in Immunocompetent Host

Claudio Piersimoni*Comments to Author , Piergiorgio Zitti*, Gianna Mazzarelli†, Alessandro Mariottini†, Domenico Nista*, and Diego Zallocco*
Author affiliations: *United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy; †Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy

Main Article

Table 1

Clinical and microbiological features of pulmonary infection with Mycobacterium triplexa

Characteristic Patient described in reference 15 Patient described in reference 16 Our patient
Age/Sex 67/F 54/F 54/F
Symptoms Hemoptysis Cough, hemoptysis, fever, fatigue Cough, fatigue
Findings Bronchiectases, lung nodules Lung infiltrates and 
nodule (0.3 cm) Bronchiectases, lung nodules, 
cavitations
Collected samples (no.) Bronchial aspirate (1), 
sputum (3) BAL (2), sputum (4) Bronchial aspirate (7), BAL (2)
Smear-positive None None 6
Culture-positive 3 3 9
Mean no. CFU/mL (range) NR NR 693 (144–2,772)
In vitro testing
  S RMP, SM, CLA NR CLA
  I CIP NR AN, CIP, EMB, ETH, RBT, SM
  R EMB, INH, PZA NR INH, RMP
Therapeutic schedule (mo.) RMP, CIP, EMB, CLA (18) RMP, INH, CLA (NR) INH, RMP, EMB (6); EMB, CLA (9); LVX, CLA, EMB (9)
Outcome Healed NR Slight improvement

aBAL, bronchoalveolar lavage; NR, not reported; S, susceptible; I, moderately susceptible; R, resistant; RMP, rifampin; SM, streptomycin; CLA, clarithromycin; CIP, ciprofloxacin; AN, amikacin; EMB, ethambutol; ETH, ethionamide; RBT, rifabutin; INH, isoniazid; PZA, pyrazinamide; LVX, levofloxacin.

Main Article

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