Mycobacterium abscessus Urinary Tract Infection Associated with Urinary Catheter Use: A Case Report

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common health issue, especially among the elderly. While most UTIs are caused by typical bacterial pathogens, infections with atypical organisms like Mycobacterium abscessus, a non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM), are exceedingly rare. This case report details one such case of a 78-year-old woman with a complex medical history who developed a persistent UTI due to M. abscessus associated with urinary catheter use. Despite multiple courses of antibiotics, her symptomatology persisted, leading to the isolation of M. abscessus via acid-fast bacilli (AFB) culture. This case makes evident the challenges associated with diagnosing and managing NTM UTIs, especially given the organism’s resistance to standard treatments and the patient’s multiple comorbidities. A comprehensive review of relevant literature is provided, further delineating the rarity of genitourinary M. abscessus infections and the need for specialized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.