FATAL PULMONARY INFECTION DUE TO MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT MYCOBACTERIUM-KANSASII WHICH DEVELOPED IN AN IMMUNOCOMPETENT YOUNG MAN

A 32-year-old immunocompetent man developed fever and malaise that per sisted for three years, As he had no health insurance, he never receiv ed any medical treatment, On admission, chest X-ray revealed multiple cavitary lesions and his sputum yielded acid-fast bacilli, that were i dentified as Mycobacterium kansasii with multidrug resistance, Althoug h his general status improved transiently by antituberculous agents, h e died of respiratory insufficiency after four months, The prognosis o f Mycobacterium kansasii pulmonary disease is reported to be relativel y good among non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis, however, physicians must pay careful attention to cases of delayed start of therapy or multidr ug resistance, or both.