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Volume 22, Number 3—March 2016
Dispatch

Treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus Infection

Shannon A. NovosadComments to Author , Susan E. Beekmann, Philip M. Polgreen, Kate Mackey, Kevin L. Winthrop, and M. abscessus Study Team
Author affiliations: Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA (S.A. Novosad, K. Mackey, K.L. Winthrop); University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA (S.E. Beekmann, P.M. Polgreen)

Main Article

Table 1

Initial drug regimens for pulmonary and extrapulmonary Mycobacterium abscessus infection and therapy-modifying/ending side effects*

Regimen, no. patients Total no. (%) patients Therapy-modifying/ending side effect, no. (%) patients
Pulmonary disease, 33†
Non-IV agents 5 (15) 2 (40)
Clarithromycin, linezolid, 1
Azithromycin, inhaled amikacin, ethambutol, rifampin, 2
Azithromycin, inhaled amikacin, ethambutol, moxifloxacin, 1
Azithromycin, ethambutol, linezolid, 1
Single IV agent 3 (9) 1 (33)
Amikacin, azithromycin, levofloxacin, 1
Tigecycline, inhaled amikacin, clofazimine, 1
Cefoxitin, azithromycin, inhaled amikacin, 1
Dual IV agents 24 (73) 15 (63)
Amikacin/macrolide-based regimens 19 (57) 13 (68)
Amikacin, macrolide, and 1 IV agent, in addition to amikacin 15 (45) 10 (67)
Amikacin, azithromycin, tigecycline, 7
Amikacin, clarithromycin, cefoxitin, 2
Amikacin, azithromycin, cefoxitin, 4
Amikacin, azithromycin, imipenem, 2
Amikacin, macrolide, 1 IV agent in addition to amikacin, and other oral agents 4 (12) 3 (75)
Amikacin, azithromycin, cefoxitin, moxifloxacin, 1
Amikacin, clarithromycin, cefoxitin, moxifloxacin, 1
Amikacin, azithromycin, imipenem, ethambutol, rifampin, 1
Amikacin, clarithromycin, cefoxitin, other, 1
Other amikacin-based regimens 1 (3) 0
Amikacin, cefoxitin, 1
Regimens without IV amikacin 4 (12) 2 (50)
Azithromycin, imipenem, tigecycline, 1
Clarithromycin, tigecycline, imipenem, 1
Clarithromycin, moxifloxacin, tobramycin, cefoxitin, 1
Azithromycin, inhaled amikacin, cefoxitin, imipenem, 1
Triple IV agents 1 (3) 1 (100)
Amikacin, macrolide, and 2 IV agent, in addition to amikacin 1 (3) 1 (100)
Amikacin, azithromycin, tigecycline, cefoxitin, 1


Extrapulmonary disease, 21
No IV agents 9 (43) 1 (11)
Clarithromycin, other, 1
Clarithromycin, doxycycline, 1
Moxifloxacin, tobramycin drops, azithromycin drops, other, 1
Azithromycin, linezolid, 1
Tobramycin drops, azithromycin, moxifloxacin drops, azithromycin topical, 1
Levofloxacin, doxycycline, 1
Ciprofloxacin, minocycline, 1
Clarithromycin, minocycline, 1
Azithromycin, moxifloxacin, 1
Single IV agent 5 (24) 2 (40)
Amikacin, azithromycin, clofazimine, 1
Cefoxitin, azithromycin, 1
Amikacin, ethambutol, 1
Imipenem, azithromycin, moxifloxacin, 1
Imipenem, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, 1
Dual IV agents 6 (29) 5 (83)
Amikacin-based regimens 6 (29) 5 (83)
Amikacin, macrolide and one IV agent, in addition to amikacin 5 (24) 4 (80)
Amikacin, azithromycin, imipenem, 2
Amikacin, clarithromycin, cefoxitin, 1
Amikacin, clarithromycin, imipenem, 2
Amikacin, macrolide,1 IV agent, in addition to amikacin, and other oral agents 1 (5) 1 (100)
Amikacin, clarithromycin, cefoxitin, moxifloxacin, linezolid, 1
Triple IV agents 1 (5) 1 (100)
Amikacin, macrolide, 2 IV agents, in addition to amikacin, and oral agent 1 (5) 1 (100)
Amikacin, clarithromycin, imipenem, tigecycline, clofazimine, 1

*IV, intravenous.
†Therapy was started for 34 patients, but 1 initial regimen was unknown.

Main Article

1Members of the study team are listed at the end of this article.

Page created: February 18, 2016
Page updated: February 18, 2016
Page reviewed: February 18, 2016
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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