Fatal infection with Mycobacterium fortuitum associated with oesophageal achalasia.

Association of chronic pulmonary disease and oesophageal disorders is well recognised. Fatal infections are, however, relatively infrequent. Two previously reported fatal cases have been due to pulmonary infection with Mycobacterium fortuitum, one diagnosed at necropsy in a woman with polyarthritis and achalasia previously treated with cortico- steroids' and the second associated with cystic fibrosis,2 the duration of illness having been eight months after the isolation of the organism. The present case is unusual in that the infection occurred in an otherwise healthy woman with asymptomatic achalasia and, unlike previous cases, the illness was acute and rapidly progressive.