Has anyone heard of micro bacterium porcinum?

Posted by lucialuciamsncom @lucialuciamsncom, Apr 29, 2022

I have had MAC for over 4 years. Have done the big 3 for 2 years. I now just take one as maintenance dose. Just had a broncostomy and it showed micro bacterium porcinum none of my docs have heard of it. I can’t find much info myself. They don’t know how to treat it cause they don’t know what it is. They want me to go to a tertiary hospital for treatment or whatever. Anyone heard of it?

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Apr 29, 2022

Well, just about every day we read something new on Connect. After almost 4 years here, I think this is the first I have heard of this type. You are correct, information is a little hard to find. What I did learn is that M. porcinum is from the Mycobacterium fortuitum complex, is widely found in water, often in hospitals.
Here is a limited study from 2020, dealing with a few CF patients:(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S156919932030028X) reached the conclusion that, "NTM, including M. porcinum, are ubiquitous in potable water and institutional water reservoirs. Our findings suggest M. porcinum is a transient colonizer rather than a pathogen."

I would think that your specimen could be sent to the labs at NJH for a colony count and sensitivity testing of the M porcinum just like they would do for any other strain.

The other action is to test the water at the facility that did your test - they may have contaminated the sample.

Are your doctors willing to consult with NJH or another major center that treats NTM so you don't have to go to another doctor & facility?
Sue