Knee Joint Osteomyelitis due to Mycobacterium abscessus: A Case Report / 감염과화학요법

ABSTRACT

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is widely present in environment but it rarely causes infections in human. However, when NTM infects humans, it can cause pulmonary infection, lymphadenitis, skin infections, disseminated infection, etc. Of theses disease, pulmonary infection occurs most frequently while osteomyelitis is rare. In addition, osteomyelitis caused by Mycobacterium abscessus, an acid-fast bacillus classified as a pathogenic "rapid growing" NTM, is even rare and has never been reported in Korea. Although no consensus guidelines concerning the treatment of osteomyelitis caused by M. abscessus exist, prolonged antibiotics therapy in combination with surgical debridement is generally recommended. Herein, we reported the first case of knee joint osteomyelitis caused by M. abscessus in Korea. The patient experienced significant improvement after antibiotic treatment without recourse to surgery.