SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF CERVICAL LYMPHADENITIS CAUSED BY MYCOBACTERIAOTHER THAN TUBERCULOSIS WITH RIFABUTIN, CLARITHROMYCIN, AND PROTIONAMIDE

Background: The treatment of choice of cervical lymphadenitis caused b y mycobacteria other than tuberculosis is surgical. However, a complet e cure can not be accomplished in every case. In selected cases a succ essful antimicrobial treatment has been reported. Casereport: We here report a girl aged 1 10/12 years who suffered from a cervical lymphade nitis caused by atypical mycobacteria. Three weeks following extirpati on of the affected lymphnode a new abscess developed at the site of su rgery. Since a complete surgical revision without affecting the facial nerve was impossible,the intervention was limited to incision and dra inage of the abscess. After that, a medical treatment with rifabutin, clarythromycin, and protionamide was started. During the 6 month of th erapy a complete cure could be accomplished and no severe side-effects were observed. Conclusion: In conclusion, if a surgical approach to c ure a cervical lymphadenitis caused by mycobacteria other than tubercu losis is impossible for different reasons, a drug-therapy with clarith romycin, rifabutin, and protionamide seems justified and promising. Th e value of testing the sensitivity of mycobacteria other than tubercul osis to different drugs in planing the drug-therapy is still a matter of debate.