Case Report: Intestinal mycobacterium abscessus infection in a child

Abstract

The diagnosis and treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus infections present significant challenges, especially in the rare cases of extrapulmonary involvement in pediatric patients. These cases are characterized by diagnostic difficulties, limited therapeutic options, scarce clinical experience, and a lack of evidence-based treatment guidelines. This article reports on a 6-year-old child who experienced fever and abdominal pain. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) facilitated the rapid and accurate identification of Mycobacterium abscessus as the causative pathogen. Under a standardized full-course protocol, an individualized therapy regimen (that includes Imipenem, Azithromycin, and Linezolid) led to favorable clinical outcomes. Through the analysis of this successfully treated case, we aim to derive clinical insights and identify potential limitations, with the goal of exploring effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for pediatric patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections in the future.