Analysis of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in Saudi children from a tertiary care hospital perspective

We present a case series of six children who were infected with different species of Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and Mycobacterium riyadhense was the most prevalent isolate representing 50% of the total pathogens. Four of the reported cases were immunocompromised with disseminated NTM diseases...

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Main Authors: Norah Abukhalid, Nabeel Alzahrani, Khaled Alsager, Banan Alsowailmi, Amjad Albawardi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Journal of Clinical Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Diseases
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405579425000452
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author Norah Abukhalid
Nabeel Alzahrani
Khaled Alsager
Banan Alsowailmi
Amjad Albawardi
author_facet Norah Abukhalid
Nabeel Alzahrani
Khaled Alsager
Banan Alsowailmi
Amjad Albawardi
author_sort Norah Abukhalid
collection DOAJ
description We present a case series of six children who were infected with different species of Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and Mycobacterium riyadhense was the most prevalent isolate representing 50% of the total pathogens. Four of the reported cases were immunocompromised with disseminated NTM diseases and two were infected with M. avium, M. abscessus, and the other two infected with M. riyadhense. Most patients responded to medical therapy, except for the M. avium case, which was fatal despite combination therapy. Due to the presence of mycolic acid in the cell wall of NTM isolates, prolonged combination therapy is required for treatment, and in some cases, natural resistance may also emerge. Most of the patients reported in our study were immunocompetent. This suggests that NTM can infect children at various body sites regardless of immune status. We highlighted our experience in diagnosing and treating these patients, with special attention to M. riyadhense.
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issn 2405-5794
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series Journal of Clinical Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Diseases
spelling doaj-art-bc188cf52ff944fb91ad53bfcc688c8a2025-08-20T03:38:23ZengElsevierJournal of Clinical Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Diseases2405-57942025-12-014110055410.1016/j.jctube.2025.100554Analysis of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in Saudi children from a tertiary care hospital perspectiveNorah Abukhalid0Nabeel Alzahrani1Khaled Alsager2Banan Alsowailmi3Amjad Albawardi4Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author at: Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pediatrics, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA), King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pediatrics, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA), King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaWe present a case series of six children who were infected with different species of Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and Mycobacterium riyadhense was the most prevalent isolate representing 50% of the total pathogens. Four of the reported cases were immunocompromised with disseminated NTM diseases and two were infected with M. avium, M. abscessus, and the other two infected with M. riyadhense. Most patients responded to medical therapy, except for the M. avium case, which was fatal despite combination therapy. Due to the presence of mycolic acid in the cell wall of NTM isolates, prolonged combination therapy is required for treatment, and in some cases, natural resistance may also emerge. Most of the patients reported in our study were immunocompetent. This suggests that NTM can infect children at various body sites regardless of immune status. We highlighted our experience in diagnosing and treating these patients, with special attention to M. riyadhense.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405579425000452Nontuberculous mycobacteriaImmunodeficiencyChildren
spellingShingle Norah Abukhalid
Nabeel Alzahrani
Khaled Alsager
Banan Alsowailmi
Amjad Albawardi
Analysis of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in Saudi children from a tertiary care hospital perspective
Journal of Clinical Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Diseases
Nontuberculous mycobacteria
Immunodeficiency
Children
title Analysis of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in Saudi children from a tertiary care hospital perspective
title_full Analysis of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in Saudi children from a tertiary care hospital perspective
title_fullStr Analysis of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in Saudi children from a tertiary care hospital perspective
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in Saudi children from a tertiary care hospital perspective
title_short Analysis of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in Saudi children from a tertiary care hospital perspective
title_sort analysis of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in saudi children from a tertiary care hospital perspective
topic Nontuberculous mycobacteria
Immunodeficiency
Children
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405579425000452
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