MYCOBACTERIUM-ABSCESSUS OSTEOMYELITIS - TREATMENT WITH CLARITHROMYCIN

Mycobacterium chelonae and Mycobacterium abscessus are closely related, rapidly growing atypical mycobacteria that cause clinical disease in humans, and are resistant to the usual antituberculous drugs. The organisms are readily isolated from the soil or water and can cause skin, soft tissue, bone, lung. or disseminated infection. The abscessus species accounts for most of the pulmonary. cutaneous, and disseminated infections [1]. Because prolonged therapy often is required because of their resistant nature, an effective oral medication is invaluable. We report the case of a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus who had vertebral osteomyelitis due to M. abscessus successfully treated with a combination of parenteral amikacin and oral clarithromycin followed by extended monotherapy with clarithromycin.