pneumonia: An unusual presentation of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection requiring a novel multidisciplinary approach to management.

BACKGROUND

is a rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium which has been associated with several infections including cellulitis, osteomyelitis, lymphadenitis, infected pacemakers and bursitis but it is a rare cause of respiratory infection.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this case report we describe a 51-year-old woman who presented with a 6-week history of non-productive cough, pleuritic chest pain and weight loss. She had a history of gastric adenocarcinoma managed with a distal oesophagectomy and total gastrectomy and consequentially suffered severe post-operative gastric reflux. Initial cultures were negative but following a VATS lung biopsy was cultured and histology revealed an organising pneumonia. Treatment was with a prolonged course of steroids, amikacin and meropenem followed by oral ciprofloxacin and doxycycline. Ongoing gastric dysmotility and weight loss showed clinical improvement with a novel approach of a combination of prokinetics and somatostatin analogues controlling risk of repeat aspiration and improving symptom control.

CONCLUSIONS

This is an unusual case of organising pneumonia related to infection and highlights the importance of mycobacterial culture in unusual and unresolving cases of organising pneumonia. The importance of controlling symptoms related to gastric dysmotility and aspiration is also addressed.