• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.5
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• pp.227-229
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• 2014

Segniliparus species is a novel genus that is reported to be the new emerging respiratory pathogens. Here, we report a very rare case of S. rugosus pulmonary infection in an immunocompetent patient with non-cystic fibrosis. The organism was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.1
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• pp.25-27
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• 2013

Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is a widely-used tumor marker in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, some patients with respiratory disease also exhibit elevated serum CA 19-9 levels. We report a case of normalization of elevated serum CA 19-9 levels after treatment of the nodular bronchiectatic form of Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease. A 40-year-old man visited our hospital because of chronic cough and sputum. A computed tomography scan revealed severe bronchiectasis in the right upper and right middle lobes. Nontuberculous mycobacteria were repeatedly isolated and identified as M. abscessus. The serum CA 19-9 level was elevated to 142.35 U/mL (normal range, <37 U/mL). Surgical resection was performed because of failure of sputum conversion after antibiotic treatment. The serum CA 19-9 level returned to the normal range after surgery. This case suggested that serum CA 19-9 levels could be elevated in patients with the nodular bronchiectatic form of M. abscessus lung disease.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2015

Background: Recent studies have shown that the nontuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM) recovery rate in clinical cultures has increased within Korea. However, another study conducted by a secondary hospital within Daegu reported different results. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand and evaluate the microbiological distribution and clinical features of NTM in Daegu. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 11,672 respiratory specimens undergoing acid fast bacilli (AFB) culture from 6,685 subjects who visited Yeungnam University Respiratory Center from January 2012 to December 2013. Results: Of the 11,672 specimens undergoing AFB culture, 1,310 specimens (11.2%) showed positive results. Of these specimens, NTM was recovered from 587 specimens, showing a recovery rate of 44.8%. Identification test for NTM was performed on 191 subjects; the results were as follows: M. avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) 123 (64.4%), M. abscessus 20 (10.5%), M. kansasii 12 (6.3%), and 33 other NTM germ strains. Of the 382 subjects with NTM, 167 were diagnosed with pulmonary NTM disease (43.7%), however virulence differed depending on NTM strain. Multivariate analysis showed that nodular bronchiectasis, the nodules, and finding consistent with cavity under imaging study were statistically significant for triggering pulmonary NTM disease. AFB culture showing MAC and M. abscessus was statistically significant as well. Positive predictive value for NTM polymerase chain reaction (NTM-PCR) was 88.6%. Conclusion: Results for NTM recovery rate within the Daegu area were similar to those for the Seoul metropolitan area. We can assume that NTM infection is increasing in our community, therefore AFB-positive subjects (1) should undergo NTM-PCR, (2) should have their culture results checked for differentiation of mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) from NTM, and (3) undergo NTM identification test to confirm its type. Administration of treatment with the above results should be helpful in improving the patients' prognosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2013

Background: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) can be measured easily, rapidly, and noninvasively for the assessment of airway inflammation, particularly mediated by eosinophil, such as asthma. In bronchiectasis (BE), the pathogenesis has been known as chronic airway inflammation and infection with abnormal airway dilatation; however, there are little studies to evaluate the role of FeNO in BE. Methods: From March 2010 to February 2012, 47 patients with BE, diagnosed by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT), performed FeNO, compared with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). All patients carried out a complete blood count including eosinophil count, chemistry, sputum examination, and spirometry, if indicated. A retrospective analysis was performed to elucidate the clinical role of FeNO in BE patients. Results: The mean FeNO levels in patients with BE was $18.8{\pm}1.5$ part per billion (ppb), compared to $48.0{\pm}6.4$ and $31.0{\pm}4.3$ in those with asthma and COPD, respectively (p<0.001). The FeNO levels tended to increase along with the disease severity scores by HRCT; however, it was statistically not significant. FeNO in BE with a co-infection of nontuberculous mycobacteria was the lowest at $17.0{\pm}3.5$ ppb among the study population. Conclusion: FeNO in BE was lower than other chronic inflammatory airway diseases, particularly compared with asthma. For clinical application of FeNO in BE, more large-scaled, prospective studies should be considered.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.5
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• pp.409-415
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• 2012

Background: The isolation of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing in South Korea. To date, however, the cause of this increase has not been determined, and it remains unclear whether the use of liquid media has contributed to this increase. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors associated with NTM isolation and the impact of liquid media on NTM culture. Methods: Mycobacterial smear/culture results of respiratory specimens (sputum and bronchial aspirates), obtained during the years 2002, 2005, and 2010, were retrieved and analyzed retrospectively. Results: During the years 2002, 2005, and 2010, 83,096 sputum specimens were collected from 31,104 patients, and were cultured for mycobacteria, using solid media only in the 2002 and 2005 specimens and both solid and liquid media in the 2010. Of these, 3,516 (4.2%) specimens were smear-positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). The annual rate of NTM among positive culture specimens increased from 21% in 2002 to 57.8% in 2010 (p<0.001), as did the proportion of NTM, among AFB smear- and culture-positive specimens, from 12.2% in 2002 to 45.2% in 2010 (p<0.001). In 2010, the NTM culture rate was higher in the liquid than in the solid media (13.9% vs. 8.4%, p<0.001). The NTM rate among AFB-positive specimens was higher in patients aged >50 than ${\leq}$50 years. Conclusion: The rate of NTM isolation has steadily been increasing at the hospital in South Korea, likely due in part to the use of liquid media for the culture.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2010

Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) diseases are increasing worldwide. However NTM lung disease in organ transplant recipients has been rarely reported. Here, we report 2 cases of NTM lung disease in heart transplant recipients. A 37-year-old man, who had undergone a heart transplant one year previous, was admitted to hospital due to a cough. Chest CT scan showed multiple centrilobular nodules in both lower lungs. In his sputum, M. abscessus was repeatedly identified by rpoB gene analysis. The patient improved after treatment with clarithromycin, imipenem, and amikacin. An additional patient, a 53-year-old woman who had undergone a heart transplant 4 years prior and who suffered from bronchiectasis, was admitted because of purulent sputum. The patient's chest CT scan revealed aggravated bronchiectasis; M. intracellulare was isolated repeatedly in her sputum. Treatment was successfully completed with clarithromycin, ethambutol, and ciprofloxacin. NTM lung disease should be considered as a potential opportunistic infection in organ transplant recipients.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 1982

Two cases of pulmonary disease in a 54 year-old female and a 70 year-old male patient due to Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex(MAIC) and a case of pulmonary infection ina 69 year-old male patient due to M. fortuitum(MF) were found recently in this institute. All three patients had a long history of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy because they were initially diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis. A 70 year-old male patient infected with MAIC had an unsuccessful chemotherapy history of isoniazid(INH), para-aminosalicylic acid(PAS) and streptomycin(SM) with an incomplete, temporary, symptomatic improvement, for three years since 1964 when he was first diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis on physical examination. A 54 year-old female patient infected with MAIC also had an unsuccessful chemotherapy history with the various anti-tuberculous drugs since 1958. Both patients discharged large number of MAIC in their sputum specimens for at least more than one year, but no M. tuberculosis at all. A 69 year-old male patient infected with MF was diagnosed as moderately advanced pulmonary tuberculsis in 1977. Combined chemotherapy with INH+PAS+pyrazinamide(PZA) improved his clinical symptoms, however, his chest radiograph was deteriorated again in 1980 one year after he stopped therapy. Therefore he started chemotherapy again with INH+ethionamide(TH)+cycloserine(CS) but no improvement was noticed. MF was cultured from his sputum in August 1981 and he continuously discharged the same bacilli until last examination of January 1982. Whether all three patients were initially !infected with nontuberculous mycobacteria or complicated with predisposing tuberculosis was not clear because there were no reliable bacteriological examination records.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.1
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• pp.28-31
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• 2013

Methotrexate (MTX) has been established as a standard disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug. If adequate disease control is achieved for a reasonable period of time, tapering the MTX dosage is recommended because the chronic use of MTX can result in opportunistic infection. We present here a case of a woman with rheumatoid arthritis taking MTX, and the woman developed actively caseating endobronchial Mycobacterium intracellulare disease with pulmonary infiltrations. After discontinuing the MTX, the patient was able to tolerate 18 months of antimycobacterial treatment without flare ups of rheumatoid arthritis, and she completely recovered from nontuberculous mycobacterial respiratory disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.432-435
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• 2015

This is a report of the first South Korean case of a lung disease caused by Mycobacterium simiae. The patient was a previously healthy 52-year-old female. All serial isolates were identified as M. simiae by multi-locus sequencing analysis, based on hsp65, rpoB, 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer, and 16S rRNA fragments. A chest radiography revealed deterioration, and the follow-up sputum cultures were persistently positive, despite combination antibiotic treatment, including azithromycin, ethambutol, and rifampin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of a lung disease caused by M. simiae in South Korea.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.519-522
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• 2011

Purpose: Breast implant surgery is increasing in Korea. NTM (non tuberculous mycobacteria) infection after breast implant surgery is rare, but it has been there reported in several foreign countries. However, no report has been issued on NTM infection after breast reconstruction surgery with an implant in Korea. The purpose of this article is to report a case of NTM infection after breast reconstruction surgery with an implant. Methods: A female patient who underwent total mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap and an implant exhibited signs of inflammation after the surgery. Fluid cultures taken at the time of wound exploration were initially negative, but NTM was isolated by culture 10 days later. Results: The implant was removed. M. fortuitum was identified by acid-fast culture and NTM-PCR. The patient was treated with combined antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: Although it is difficult to diagnose NTM infection after breast surgery, it is important that surgeons include NTM infection in the differential diagnosis of a post mammoplasty infection after breast implant surgery.