AUTHOR=Chen Siwei , Sun Wei , Liu Ran , Yao Lanqiu , Peng Qing 

TITLE=Intracranial infection caused by Mycobacterium rhodesiae with specific imaging findings and good response to medication: a case report and literature review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1414369

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1414369

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p>Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are exceedingly rare etiological agents of intracranial infections. Among them, <italic>Mycobacterium rhodesiae</italic> stands out as an even less common pathogen. In this paper, we report the first documented case of a central nervous system (CNS) infection in humans caused by <italic>Mycobacterium rhodesiae</italic>, which has specific imaging findings and good response to the therapy by using Linezolid, Clarithromycin, and Minocycline. The diagnosis was facilitated by a comprehensive multimodal approach, incorporating multisite imaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis via next-generation sequencing (NGS), and targeted genetic testing. Furthermore, this paper provides a derivation of the clinical characteristics observed in other documented instances of CNS infections attributable to NTM and based on a review of the current literature. Our experience contributes to the evidence that is needed to understand the full spectrum of NTM-related CNS pathologies and underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary diagnostic process in atypical presentations of intracranial infections.</p>