Lungs and Beyond: Seizures as Presenting Symptom in a Patient With Mycobacterium chimaera Infection.

Abstract

Mycobacterium chimaera is a slow-growing, non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) that belongs to the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). It first emerged as a pathogen after being associated with infections in patients who underwent cardiothoracic surgery when patients were getting exposed to heater cooler units, especially those requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or prosthetic valve placement. We report an atypical presentation of M. chimaera infection in a patient with COPD, but no prior history of cardiac surgery or immunosuppression.