AIDS Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about AIDS, including details on testing, treatment, prevention, hiv, life expectancy.

Spondylitis due to Mycobacterium xenopi in a human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patient: case report and review of the literature.

Meybeck A, Fortin C, Abgrall S, Adle-Biassette H, Hayem G, Ruimy R, Yeni P

Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales A, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France. agnes.meybeck@caramail.com

Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections are well known to occur in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, spondylitis due to mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis is uncommon. We report a case of biopsy- and culture-proven Mycobacterium xenopi spondylitis in an AIDS patient and discuss approaches to diagnosis and therapy. This case serves to highlight the potential pathogenic role of this usually environmental commensal organism in severely immunosuppressed AIDS patients and uncertainties in their management, given the scarce data on appropriate therapy for this organism.

Published 7 March 2005 in J Clin Microbiol, 43(3): 1465-6.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 AIDS Research Today. All Rights Reserved.