CLINICAL AND LABORATORY ASPECTS OF MYCOBACTERIUM-HAEMOPHILUM INFECTIONS

Mycobacterium haemophilum is a fastidious organism that has been found to cause disease in immunosuppressed individuals and healthy children . This species of Mycobacterium requires haemin or a source of ferric ions for growth. In immunocompromised individuals, M. haemophilum has been shown to cause skin lesions, most often overlying joints, and dis seminated disease. This organism has also been isolated from infected lymph nodes of children. These infections have been treated locally by surgical excision of the infected node and by the use of varied drug regimens; however, M. haemophilum is resistant to a number of agents c ommonly used to treat tuberculosis. The environmental niche of this or ganism is unknown, as is the mode of acquisition of infection. Factors involved in the spread of this infection remain to be elucidated.