J Korean Med Sci.  2005 Dec;20(6):957-960. 10.3346/jkms.2005.20.6.957.

Mycobacterium kansasii Pulmonary Diseases in Korea

• Yim JJ
• Park YK
• Lew WJ
• Bai GH
• Han SK
• Shim YS

• KMID: 2157744
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2005.20.6.957

Abstract

Mycobacterium kansasii is one of the most common cause of pulmonary diseases due to nontuberculous mycobacteria. We investigated the changing in the number of isolation of M. kansasii and the clinical characteristics of M. kansasii pulmonary disease in Korea. Through searching the database of the Korean Institute of Tuberculosis, we identified the cases of isolated M. kansasii from 1992 to 2002. The number of M. kansasii isolation had increased from once in 1992 to 62 in 2002. Fifteen patients with M. kansasii pulmonary disease were identified during the period January 1997 to December 2002. Twelve patients (80%) were male and fourteen (93%) were from highly industrialized areas. The most common symptom was a cough. Seven patients (47%) had a cavitary lesion and right upper lobe was most commonly involved. Patients responded well to isoniazid and rifampicin based regimens both bacteriologically and radiographically. In conclusion, M. kansasii isolation has increased, especially in highly industrialized areas, as well as other nontuberculous mycobacteria in Korea.

Keyword

Mycobacterium kansasii; Mycobacterium Infections, Atypical; Mycobacteria, Atypical; Korea

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use
Female
Humans
Korea/epidemiology
Lung Diseases/diagnosis/drug therapy/*epidemiology/microbiology
Male
Middle Aged
Mycobacterium Infections, Atypical/diagnosis/drug therapy/*epidemiology/microbiology
*Mycobacterium kansasii/isolation and purification
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Geographic distribution of patients with a M. kansasii positive culture (A) and probable M. kansasii pulmonary disease (B). Patients not matched with a city were from rural areas.

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