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Misidentification of Mycobacterium peregrinum, the causal organism of a case of bacteremia and automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator-associated infection, due to its unusual acid-fast staining characteristics.

Short WR, Emery C, Bhandary M, O'Donnell JA

Division of HIV Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

We report an unusual case of Mycobacterium peregrinum bacteremia and infection of an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator that was originally misidentified as a Nocardia sp. due, in part, to its partially acid-fast staining characteristic, morphology, and odor. The misdiagnosis had a direct effect on patient care, though the patient was subsequently successfully treated.

Published 7 April 2005 in J Clin Microbiol, 43(4): 2015-7.
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