Mycobacterium gordonae: a treatable disease in HIV-positive patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the pathogenicity of Mycobacterium gordonae in patients with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one HIV-positive and 15 HIV-negative patients in a tertiary care center. A descriptive, case-control, and cohort study with a review of the literature with a computer-based data research.

RESULTS: The 15 HIV-negative patients had colonization only. Seven HIV-positive patients had colonization, 12 had possible disease, and 2 had dissemination. The two patients with definitive dissemination improved objectively with treatment.

CONCLUSION: Mycobacterium gordonae in HIV-negative patients is rarely a pathogen. In HIV-positive patients with a low CD4+ cell count, it can cause significant disease and treatment is beneficial.