Mycobacterium tuberculosis breast infection mimicking pyogenic abscesses in Kuwait

ABSTRACT

To present 2 cases of primary breast abscesses caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis mimicking pyogenic abscesses in healthy young females. Two young non-lactating Indonesian and Indian women, aged 27 and 29 years old, respectively, presented with breast abscesses caused by M. tuberculosis. The breasts presented as huge, swollen, hot, tender masses with a discharge at the subareolar site. Surgical drainage revealed deep abscess with copious amount of pus, samples of which were positive for acid-fast bacilli [AFB] and later confirmed as M. tuberculosis by positive cultures in Becton Dickinson BBL Migit and BACTEC 12B media. The initial therapies with clindamycin were changed to 4 anti-tuberculous drugs as soon as the smears showed the presence of AFB. The patients were discharged a week later, but both were lost to follow-up. Mammary tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of breast lesion, especially in patients from endemic areas