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Disclaimer: Early release articles are not considered as final versions. Any changes will be reflected in the online version in the month the article is officially released.

Volume 32, Number 9—September 2026

Synopsis

Investigation of Mycobacterium abscessus Cluster in Hospital, Maryland, USA, 2024

Sarah LudmerComments to Author , Monique Duwell, Tracie Harris, Surbhi Leekha, Allison Slater, Vincent Escuyer, Joseph Shea, Pascal Lapierre, Jamie Rubin, Rebecca Perlmutter, Donna Kohlershmidt, and Michelle Dickinson
Author affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (S. Ludmer); Maryland Department of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA (S. Ludmer, M. Duwell, J. Rubin, R. Perlmutter); University of Maryland Capital Region Health, Largo, Maryland, USA (T. Harris, A. Slater); University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA (S. Leekha); New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA (V. Escuyer, J. Shea, P. Lapierre); Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany (D. Kohlershmidt, M. Dickinson)

Main Article

Table

Summary of patient characteristics, including pertinent investigation results, from Mycobacterium abscessus cluster in hospital, Maryland, USA, 2024*

Patient ID Age, y/sex Risk factors or underlying conditions Patient unit Specimen type Culture date OR procedure OR Matched to ENV isolate Type
A
 30/F
 Gastronomy tube
 1
 Blood
 2023 Mar 28
 Laminectomy
 B
 Y
 Clinical case
B
 38/F
 No significant risk factors/conditions
 1
 Abdominal abscess
 2023 Mar 30
 Cholecystectomy
 B
 Y
 Clinical case
C
 34/F
 Endocarditis, hepatitis C
 2†
 Sputum
 2023 Aug 22
 None
 NA
 Y
 Contaminant/colonization
D
 74/F
 Tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease
 3
 Sputum
 2023 Sep 9
 None
 NA
 Y
 Contaminant/colonization
E
 32/F
 Sickle cell disease
 3, 5
 Blood
 2023 Sep 13
 None
 NA
 Y
 Clinical case
F
 24/M
 Pericarditis
 2,‡ 4
 Sputum
 2023 Nov 27
 Creation pericardial window
 A
 N§
 Contaminant/colonization
G
 76/M
 Coronary artery disease
 2†
 Blood
 2024 Feb 8
 CABG
 A
 Y
 Clinical case
H
 74/F
 Tracheostomy, gastronomy tube, endocarditis, lung cancer, sarcoidosis
 1, 2,‡ 3
 Blood
 2024 Apr 2
 Bilateral aortogram, iliac stents, brachial artery repair, femoral angioplasties
 C, D, E
 Y
 Clinical case
I
 42/M
 No significant risk factors/conditions
 6
 Sputum
 2024 Apr 2
 None
 NA
 Y
 Contaminant/colonization
J
 72/F
 Necrotizing pancreatitis, kidney and breast cancer, diabetes mellitus
 4
 Blood
 2024 Jun 5
 None
 NA
 NA
 Clinical case
K 53/F HIV, tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus 3 Sputum 2024 Sep 18 None NA N§ Contaminant/colonization

*Unit names are deidentified; placeholder numbers have been assigned to maintain anonymity. ENV, environmental; NA, not applicable; OR, operating room. †Patients shared the same room on unit 2 but did not overlap in admission dates. ‡Patients shared the same room on unit 2 but did not overlap in admission dates. §Only matched to other patient isolates.

Main Article

Page created: July 30, 2026
Page updated: August 05, 2026
Page reviewed: August 05, 2026
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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