Mycobacterium gordonae pulmonary infection with clinical manifestations similar to tuberculosis

Mycobacterium gordonae is one of the most important human mycobacterial pathogens that is found in immuno-compromised patients and also healthy people. This study is the first case report of Mycobacterium gordonae infection from Iran.
Material and A 39-year-old woman with fever, weight loss, anorexia, chest pain and persistent cough referred to the emergency department of Al-Zahra Hospital in Isfahan,. A sputum sample was taken from the patient. After eleven days bacterial colonies were observed on the Lowenstein–Jensen Medium. Using microscopic evaluation and biochemical tests, the bacterial colonies were identified as Mycobacterium gordonae. Considering the antibiotic resistance pattern clarithromycin and levofloxacin, were prescribed for the patient. The patient's clinical signs were improved after 6 weeks.
The clinical and radiological manifestations of mycobacterium gordonae and tuberculosis are similar and may be mistaken for each other. In addition, therapeutic regimen for non-tuberculosis mycobacteria and tuberculosis are different. Therefore it is necessary to identify mycobacteria to the species level.