Disseminated Mycobacterium genavense Infection in an immuno-competent Adult: a case report

Abstract We report the case of a 79-year-old man who presented with episodic fever and increased liver enzymes, three months after a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Only after several weeks of thorough and persistent investigation, we could identify Mycobacterium genavense in a mycotic aneurysm of the aorta. M. genavense is a rare non-tuberculous mycobacterium and a known pathogen in severe immunocompromised patients. Its detection and identification poses a real challenge due to difficulties in culturing this organism, and relies on molecular methods. This seems to be the first published case of a disseminated infection in an immunocompetent adult.