From the Guidelines
The recommended treatment for Mycobacterium gordonae infection typically involves observation without antimicrobial therapy in most cases, as this organism is generally considered non-pathogenic and rarely causes clinically significant disease. When treatment is necessary due to confirmed pathogenic infection, a multidrug regimen consisting of clarithromycin, ethambutol, and rifabutin may be considered, as these antimicrobial agents have been shown to be active in vitro against M. gordonae 1. The choice of treatment should be guided by susceptibility testing when available, as drug resistance patterns can vary. It is essential to note that M. gordonae is often a contaminant rather than a true pathogen, which explains the conservative approach to treatment. Some key points to consider in the treatment of M. gordonae infection include:
- The use of ethambutol, rifabutin, clarithromycin, linezolid, and the fluoroquinolones, which have been shown to be active in vitro against M. gordonae 1
- The importance of susceptibility testing to guide therapy when available
- The potential need for surgical intervention in cases of localized infections such as abscesses or infected foreign bodies
- The need for clinical improvement to be monitored throughout therapy, with follow-up cultures to confirm eradication of the infection in treated cases. In general, the treatment approach for M. gordonae infection should prioritize a conservative approach, reserving antimicrobial therapy for cases where the organism is confirmed to be pathogenic and causing clinically significant disease 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
INDICATIONS ETHAMBUTOL HCl is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Treatment of Mycobacterium gordonae Infection
- The recommended treatment for Mycobacterium gordonae infection is a multidrug regimen, as seen in a case study where a patient was treated with azithromycin, rifampin, and ciprofloxacin for 12 months 2.
- Another study reported a patient being successfully treated with rifampin, ethambutol, and isoniazid 3.
- A case of septic olecranon bursitis caused by Mycobacterium gordonae was treated with a triple antimicrobial combination therapy of Rifampicin, Clarithromycin, and Ethambutol for 12 months 4.
- It's worth noting that the treatment of Mycobacterium gordonae infection may vary depending on the specific case and the patient's condition, and further studies are needed to understand the pathogenesis of M. gordonae infection in humans 2.
Drug Combinations and Treatment Duration
- A combination of rifampin, clarithromycin, and ethambutol has been shown to be effective in treating M. gordonae infection 3, 4.
- The treatment duration for M. gordonae infection can range from several months to a year or more, depending on the severity of the infection and the patient's response to treatment 2, 4.
- Studies on other mycobacterial infections, such as Mycobacterium ulcerans and Mycobacterium avium complex, have also investigated the use of rifamycin-based regimens, including rifampin and rifabutin, in combination with other antibiotics 5, 6.