Nontuberculous mycobacterial otitis media with inner ear disorder in an adult patient: a case report

Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacterial otitis media is rare and difficult to diagnose. We herein reported a case of 74-year-old man who presented with intractable left-sided chronic otitis media caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria. The patient exhibited a perforation of the left tympanic membrane, mucoid discharge, and some granulation tissue. A culture smear was positive for acid-fast bacilli, but Mycobacterium tuberculosis was not identified. Because of the patient’s mixed hearing loss and vertigo, he received antibiotic therapy for nontuberculous mycobacteria. After 1 month of appropriate antibiotic therapy, his vertigo resolved. After 3 months of treatment, the perforation of his left tympanic membrane had healed. He continued treatment for 1 year and was well without signs of reinfection at the time of this report.