Skin indurations in response to tuberculin testing in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis

Clin Infect Dis. 2001 Nov 15;33(10):1786-8. doi: 10.1086/323984. Epub 2001 Oct 5.

Abstract

Mantoux results were examined for 29 children with culture-proven nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis, and 4 species were isolated: Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (from 14 patients [48%]), Mycobacterium haemophilum (from 12 [41%]), Mycobacterium simiae (from 2 [7%]), and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum (from 1 [3%]); the median indurations for each species were 15.5 mm, 14.5 mm, 20 mm, and 23 mm, respectively, and in 17 cases (59%), they were > or =15 mm. In regions with a low incidence of tuberculosis, lymphadenitis thought to be due to nontuberculous mycobacteria should be managed as such, regardless of Mantoux results, thereby avoiding antituberculosis treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Culture Media
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lymphadenitis / diagnosis*
  • Lymphadenitis / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium Infections / diagnosis*
  • Mycobacterium Infections / microbiology*
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / diagnosis
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / microbiology
  • Mycobacterium avium Complex / isolation & purification
  • Mycobacterium haemophilum / isolation & purification
  • Mycobacterium scrofulaceum / isolation & purification
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tuberculin Test* / methods
  • Tuberculin Test* / standards

Substances

  • Culture Media