Rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in a renal transplant patient after alemtuzumab induction

Abstract

Renal transplant recipients are at high risk of developing opportunistic infections particularly in the first 6 months after transplantation. Organisms causing such infections include rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Lymphocytes have a central role in combating mycobacterial infections. The use of lymphocyte-depleting agents, such as alemtuzumab, in the renal transplant population has increased in recent years. A case of multifocal osteomyelitis caused by one of the NTM, Mycobacterium chelonae, in a renal transplant recipient, after alemtuzumab induction, is presented.

Keywords: Mycobacterium chelonae; alemtuzumab; atypical mycobacteria; non-tuberculous mycobacteria.