Mycobacterium heckeshornense-induced deep abscess in the gluteus maximus muscle: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Mycobacterium heckeshornense is rarely isolated from a clinical sample. We report a case of a patient with polymyositis in whom a deep abscess formed in the gluteus maximus muscle and in which M. heckeshornense was identified by DNA sequencing. Combination therapy of levofloxacin and clarithromycin for 2 years improved inflammatory findings and 5 years have passed without recurrence of the gluteal abscess. Identification of the bacterial strain in nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) infection is important to determine the treatment plan and accumulation of data on drug sensitivity is required to establish a therapeutic strategy for rare pathogen such as M. heckeshornense.