Tests show Mycobacterium Chimaera

Few years ago sputum culture showed MAI. Was on Big 3 for a couple of years (at end clofazamine substituted for ethambutol due to vision problems). Last culture showed 50 colonies of chimaera. Wondering how many of you had chimaera show up; were you treated; if so, what and for how long? Anyone simply have it go away with just airway clearance techniques? Had 5 colonies of m.abscessus show on another culture. Anyone with that type of experience as well?

@sueinmn That is great to know you had those bugs one month then not the next, I just had a gordonae show up but my Dr wasnt worried, hopefully it goes.

@128128terry11t Any symptoms? I grew M chimaera & M gordonae at various times, but not M abscessus as far as I know. Next sample did not show either one, but I was on antibiotics at the time, so don't know if that kicked it, or it was just what my pulmo calls a tainted sample since both are present everywhere along with M. intracellulare. I have been antibiotic-free, but not MAC-free for 6 months & still doing fine with airway clearance - pulmo is happy with status quo.

Does your doc have any plan to repeat tests soon?
Sue

@128128terry11t @heathert and @sueinmn I moved your discussion about M chimaera to this existing discussion where @alm2019 @dulwich @megan123 @dongreiner1957 @mulenga021 are also talking about chimaera.

According to this 2018 article Mycobacterium Chimaera: A Rare Presentation - NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6080730/
- "Mycobacterium chimaera is an indolent nontuberculous mycobacterium which is abundant in soil, dust, and water. ... it has been recognized as an emerging opportunistic threat to patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery and open heart procedures requiring extracorporeal devices."
- "Treatment of M. chimaera is the same as other Mycobacterium avium complex infections, including two to three antimicrobials for at least 12 months and often up to 18 months. Commonly used first-line drugs include macrolides, ethambutol, and rifamycins."

You may also be interested in this discussion on Connect:
Just found out I have mycobacterium abscessus! https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/just-found-out-i-have-mycobacteria-adscessus/

Terry, have your doctors suggested going back on antibiotics for a period of time or using other treatment options?

Thank you very much; your responses are very helpful. Dr. Huitt (National Jewish) wants to wait and see what my next culture may or may not reveal. I will keep you informed of the outcome. I permitted an ENT to put a scope down my throat to check on whether there was a lot of mucous. I am wondering if this caused it. I will never know. Bottom line: We need to say "no" to non-essential scoping. Wishing you all safety during these difficult times.

I was diagnoised over a year ago with Microbacterium Chimera. I have never had any heart surgery, I have no idea how I caught this. Ive been on 3 antibotics for over a year and my last broncoscopy showed no growth so I have to continue for another year on the pills.

Good morning, and welcome to Mayo Connect and the MAC & Bronchiectasis group. We are people living with a wide variety of diseases and conditions, who support each other along the way. We try to be informed medical consumers, and our own best advocates in our care. We are not medical professionals, so not able to provide medical advice. We can tell you what has worked for us (or not) and provide you with information and conversation about your questions.

Since you are new to us, I would like to ask a few questions. When you say you have had Mycobacteria Chimera for over a year, do you also have a lung disease like COPD, Asthma or Bronchiectasis? When you recently had a bronchoscopy, did you mean "no improvement" or no M. Chimera in a sputum culture?

It is typical to continue to treat mycobacteria infections for one year after the bacteria does not show in a culture, to eradicate it as much as possible?

Let me know if I can answer any questions for you.
Sue

I have no lung disease such as COPD, Asthma or Bronchiectasis. I had a cough for over 9 months and was referred to a Pulmonologis who did a Bronchoscopy, it showed Mycrobacteria Chimera, he then put me on 3 antibotics 3 x a week. I had a 2nd bronchoscopy 9 months later and it still showed growth. I had my 3rd bronchoscopy and it showed no growth. Im still on the antiboitcs for an additional year at least.

I have no idea how I caught this..I live in OK where its high humidity, I had a hot tub which I quit using.

I am curious, did he make this diagnosis from looking at the bronchoscope, or did he remove some mucus and send it to the lab? Have you had imaging, either x-ray or CT to show the extent of involvement throughout the lungs?

Hot tubs are sometimes pointed to as the culprits in Mycobacteria infections, because they can expel the bacteria in the steam, which you then breathe in. But usually healthy lungs can fight them off...

Sue

He took several samples and some took 4-6 weeks to grow. I've had x-ray and ct scans also. I have some scarring of my lungs but very minimal.