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Category: Clinical Microbiology; Bacterial Pathogenesis
Mycobacterium scrofulaceum, Page 1 of 2
< Previous page | Next page > /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555817138/9781555815134_Chap40-1.gif /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555817138/9781555815134_Chap40-2.gifAbstract:
Isolates of Mycobacterium scrofulaceum, according to early reports, were identified in raw milk, oysters, soil, and water. Dunn and Hodgson were able to isolate M. scrofulaceum, among other species of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), from raw milk but not from samples of pasteurized milk. The distribution of mycobacterial species in childhood cervical lymphadenitis has changed over the years. Differentiating NTM lymphadenitis from tuberculosis is usually not difficult. Age from 1 to 5 years, unilateral nodes, lack of systemic illness, no history of contact with active tuberculosis, normal chest radiograph, no or weak response to intermediate-strength tuberculin skin test, nonreactive tuberculin skin tests in siblings, early suppuration, and no response to antituberculous antibiotics are all points which favor NTM disease. Wedge biopsy of one of the nodules revealed caseating granulomas and acid-fast bacilli, with M. scrofulaceum isolated from culture. Yamamoto et al. reported six cases of meningitis due to NTM, five of which were due to scotochromogens. There are several reports of cutaneous disease. The sensitivity of M. scrofulaceum to antituberculous antibiotics has been reported sporadically. It is one of the most resistant of all NTM species. The organism is resistant to isoniazid, para-aminosalicylic acid, and kanamycin. A large body of anecdotal evidence suggests that antibiotic therapy has no benefit in lymphadenitis and that node resection usually suffices for complete cure.
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