We report a case of disseminated Mycobacterium intracellulare infection in a 31-year-old man who had been diagnosed as having dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus 3-years prior. The patient developed a left pleural effusion M. intracellulare was repeatedly isolated from the pleural fluid. After antimycobacterial treatment, the patient's pleural effusion resolved, but a left knee joint effusion developed newly and M. intracellulare was cultured from the joint fluid. At present, the patient has been taking antimycobacterial medication for 15 months but his left knee joint fluid remains positive for M. intracellulare. To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of disseminated NTM infection in a non-HIV infected patient in Korea.
Adult ; Arthritis ; Dermatomyositis ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium avium Complex ; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection ; Pleural Effusion