Pulmonary mycobacterium chimaera infection

Pulmonary mycobacterium chimaera infection is a rare form of non-tuberculous myobacterial infection. 

Epidemiology

Although rare, it is recognized as an emerging opportunistic threat in patients undergoing coronary arterial bypass surgery and open heart procedures requiring extracorporeal devices ¹.

Pathology

It occurs due to Mycobacterium chimaera, a slow-growing non-tuberculous mycobacterium grouped with Mycobacterium intracellulare and Mycobacterium avium to make up the Mycobacterium avium complex.

Along with pulmonary infections, it can also manifest as various cardiac and extra-cardiac conditions such as:

• prosthetic valve endocarditis

• sternal wound infection

• aortic graft infection

• disseminated (non-cardiac) disease