Abstract Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have become increasingly recognized as clinically significant pathogens, especially in immunocompromised patients with indwelling devices like chemoports. This report presents the case of a 71-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer, who developed a persistent, unexplained fever lasting 6 weeks after completing chemotherapy with trastuzumab and pertuzumab. Despite broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, the fever persisted, and diagnostic workup revealed an infection by Mycobacterium mageritense , a rapidly growing NTM, linked to her chemoport, which had been in place for 7 months. Initial empirical treatment with meropenem and teicoplanin was administered, but on confirmation of NTM, therapy transitioned to targeted antibiotics, including amikacin and levofloxacin. Surgical removal of the chemoport was performed. Posttreatment, the patient showed clinical improvement with resolution of fever and normalization of laboratory parameters.
Nanda et al. (Thu,) studied this question.