MYCOBACTERIUM MALMOENSE - A NEW AGENT OF MYCOBACTERIOSIS IN FRANCE

Mycobacterium malmoense is an agent of mycobacteriosis frequently enco untered in Sweden, Finland and Great-Britain, but still rare in France (2 pulmonary infections in 1983 and 1986). Most infections represent pulmonary disease or cervical adenitis; other infections (disseminated , cutaneous, soft tissue) are rare and usually occur in immunologicall y compromised patients. These infections are exceptional in AIDS patie nts. Treatment is not codified. Usual associations include isoniazide, rifampicin and ethambutol; in vivo efficacy of clarithromycine is not documented. Diagnosis is complicated by the dysgonic and slow growth (6 to 8 weeks) on solid media. However culture may be detected in 8 da ys by Bactec method. Characteristic biochemical tests include Tween 80 hydrolysis and thermolabile catalase. Mycolic acid composition and br anched fatty acids in 21 and 27 carbon atoms represent specific marker s for identification. Eight french cases due to M. malmoense and diagn osed during 1989-1992 are presented including 6 pulmonary infections, 1 cervical adenitis and 1 cutaneous infection.