Mycobacterium chimaera: a case report from Italy

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2025 Oct 14;95(3). doi: 10.4081/monaldi.2024.2933. Epub 2024 Sep 13.

Abstract

Mycobacterium chimaera is an environmental non-tuberculous mycobacterium belonging to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). It has been widely known to be associated with disseminated infection after cardiac surgery, related to heater-cooler units used during these procedures. Although M. chimaera seems to be a less virulent species compared to M. avium and M. intracellulare among MAC, several cases of M. chimaera lung infections have been reported in settings of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, malignancy, or immunosuppression. Here, we present an Italian case report in association with newly diagnosed COPD.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium avium Complex / isolation & purification
  • Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection* / diagnosis
  • Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection* / microbiology
  • Mycobacterium* / isolation & purification
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* / complications
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* / diagnosis

Supplementary concepts

  • Mycobacterium chimaera