Cervical abscess caused by Mycobacterium tilburgii in a patient carrying anti-interferon gamma autoantibody: A case report and literature review

Mycobacterium tilburgii, a nonculturable mycobacterium, is an important nontuberculous mycobacterium that occasionally causes serious infections in patients with cellular immune deficiencies. Due to its nonculturable nature, information about its drug susceptibility is not available, and data about its clinical response to antimycobacterial treatment remains insufficient. Here, we report a case of a patient who presented with neck swelling and was finally diagnosed with cervical abscess caused by M. tilburgii carrying anti-interferon gamma autoantibodies using a molecular method. The relevant literature was reviewed in the context of epidemiological and clinical data on M. tilburgii infections. In this report, 15 patients were reported to be infected with M. tilburgii. Almost all patients had a cellular immune deficiency and presented with disseminated infections. Multiple refractory or relapse cases that often required prolonged antimycobacterial treatment have been reported, although a few fatal cases have also been reported. In conclusion, M. tilburgii is an important pathogen in patients with cellular immune deficiency. Physicians should thoroughly investigate cellular immune deficiency, including adult-onset immune deficiency with anti-interferon gamma autoantibodies, in patients with M. tilburgii infection.