A 22-Year-Old Immunocompetent Woman With Cavitary Lesions in Both Lungs Resulting From Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection - A Case Report

Abstract

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) causing atypical mycobacteriosis is a common pathogen in the environment. Atypical mycobacteriosis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are considered in parallel in the diagnosis based on the clinical and radiological picture in patients. Establishing the diagnosis is possible only at the stage of microbiolgical examination. The majority of patients infected with mycobacteriosis have concomitant pulmonary disease, smoking or immune impairment, i.e. HIV infection. Above that, the infection more often affects men aged about 45-62 years. We report the case of a 22-year-old woman who, despite her young age and lack of health burdens or addictions, was diagnosed with atypical mycobacteriosis (Mycobacterium kansasii) infection by visualizing large cavitary and nodular lesions in both lungs.