PULMONARY INFECTION DUE TO MYCOBACTERIUM-SZULGAI, CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

We describe the case of a patient with a chronic pulmonary infection d ue to a mycobacterium tentatively identified as Mycobacterium flavesce ns, but finally shown to be Mycobacterium szulgai; this is the first M . szulgai infection reported in Italy. The patient responded to treatm ent with multiple antituberculosis drugs only after two cycles of 10 a nd 6 months, respectively. The literature concerning previous case rep orts in which M. szulgai is involved is revised and the difficulty con cerning the identification of this rare mycobacterium, along with its in vitro and in vivo susceptibility, are discussed.