Pulmonary Mycobacterium simiae disease in Iran's national referral centre for tuberculosis

Abstract number: P586

Baghaei Shiva P.

Background: Various types of non-tuberculosisMycobacterium (NTM) can affect human and can cause either symptomatic or asymptomatic infection. In this particular study, we intend to determine the clinical, radiological, and treatment of M. simiae in patients in our referral centre in Iran.

Methods: This retrospective study is conducted at Masih Daneshvari Hospital, a TB referral hospital in Iran. All patients presenting to our centre between 2002–2008 with confirmed infection with M. Simiae are included in the study. For all patients, smear and culture for AFB and drug susceptibility testing were performed. Also, PCR, identification methods for NTM, and high-resolution CT scan were carried out as well. All patients with confirmed M. simiae diseases were treated according to ATS recommendations.

Results: Totally, 14 cases of M. simiae were identified in our centre. Eight were female, all but one were Iranians, and the mean age of the patients was 53±17.76 years. Just one patient was HIV positive.

The most frequent symptoms were cough (100%), Fever (92.9%), weight loss (85.7%). 57% of the patients had nodular lesions. As well, each bronchiectasis or cavitation was present in 50%. All patients were resistant to all first-line drugs. 12 patients reached cure and two patients failed the treatment. There was no recurrence of the disease by any of the patients after undergoing treatment.

Conclusion:M. simiae may present with clinical and radiological manifestations consistent with tuberculosis, and be resistant to anti-TB agents. NTM such as M. simiae should be sought to shorten the period of treatment, lessen the adverse effects, and reach a more efficient treatment.