MYCOBACTERIUM-FORTUITUM COMPLEX IN SWEDEN DURING AN 11-YEAR PERIOD

Records of patients hale been retrospectively examined studied during an 11-y period, from whom Mycobacterium fortuitum or M. chelonae was i solated in Sweden. Respiratory isolates were obtained from 71 patients . Clinical information was accessible in 52, chest X-ray was pathologi cal in 51, and 42 had underlying diseases. Four skin and 4 urine isola tes were observed. Two cases of osteitis and 2 bone marrow isolates of M. chelonae were found. One girl had a submandibular lymph node absce ss with M. fortuitum. Of 2 HIV patients, 1 had positive blood cultures with M. fortuitum and the other positive sputum culture with M. chelo nae. The broad spectrum of infections with M. fortuitum complex necess itates an integrated judgement of clinical and bacteriological data to determine the relevance of such isolates.