Disseminated infection by Mycobacterium genavense in an HIV-1 infected patient

Opportunistic infections are an important cause of death and morbidity among HIV infected patients. Disseminated infections by nontuberculous mycobacteria are a diagnostic to consider among these patients with a high level of immunosuppression. A 64 year old Caucasian man, born in Angola, living in Portugal since 1975, presented in the emergency room with generalized malaise, weight loss, vesperal temperatures of around 37.5 °C with night sweats for two months, and epigastric abdominal pain with liquid stools in the 2 previous weeks. Laboratory study revealed a previously undiagnosed HIV-1 infection with 42 Lymphocytes CD4+/uL and viremia of 61,249 copies/mL. The abdominal-pelvic CT scan showed multiple necrotic ganglia in the mesenterium and mesenteric vases, which were biopsied revealing positive PCR for a nontuberculous mycobacteria; duodenal biopsies showed similar results. The bone marrow blood culture yeald the growth of Mycobacterium genavense. Antimicobacterial treatment was started and after six months he showed imagiological deterioration and the antibiogram revealed resistance to all antimycobacterial agents. The therapeutic scheme was empirically changed and the patient kept under vigilance with chronic therapy. This rare clinical case is both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.