What is it about ?
Mycobacteria are a large family of bacteria that look alike and cause similar illnesses, primarily respiratory tract infections.
The best known species are Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, respectively responsible for tuberculosis and leprosy. They are called typical mycobacteria.
Apart from these species, there are still dozens of other species of mycobacteria called atypical mycobacteria. Atypical mycobacterial infections, too, mainly cause respiratory symptoms. Contamination occurs through contact with contaminated water or soil.
Every day we are exposed to different bacteria of these species. Yet not all of us get sick. It is not yet clear why some species cause disease and others not, or why some people get sick and others seem unresponsive.
People with reduced resistance (for example, those with AIDS or leukemia) are extremely sensitive, as are people with chronic illnesses, people undergoing chemotherapy and the debilitated elderly.
Human-to-human transmission has not been reported.
How to recognize them?
Consider an infection with atypical mycobacteria if a respiratory tract infection progresses abnormally and persists. The main symptoms are a persistent cough with mucus, shortness of breath, weight loss, night sweats and fever. The clinical picture strongly resembles the tuberculosis.
Such infection can easily be contracted when immunity is reduced. Besides, there may also be other symptoms outside the respiratory tract: swollen lymph nodes in the neck and under the jaw, skin and ear infections, especially in children.
How is the diagnosis made?
The diagnosis is difficult to make with certainty, as there are few symptoms that are typical for the infection. In addition, it is difficult to cultivate atypical mycobacteria. Atypical mycobacterial infection is suspected when certain lung infections are lingering and responding poorly to treatment. The x-ray sometimes shows cavities caused by damaged lungs.
The diagnosis can only be made with certainty after culturing the bacteria from a sputum (phlegm), a sample of mucus taken from the airways, or a piece of lung tissue taken during a biopsy. Culture must be positive several times for the diagnosis to be made with certainty.
What can the doctor do?
The treatment is similar to that of tuberculosis, but usually takes longer: instead of 6 months, sometimes up to 2 years. If the result is insufficient, other antibiotics may be prescribed. Treatment may not be prescribed if the person has no or few symptoms.
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