INTERNAL MEDICINE SPECIAL ISSUE
IMAJ | volume 27
Journal 4, April 2025
pages: 221-223
Walking the Pathogenic Tightrope: Is Mycobacterium simiae a Benign Colonizer or a Potential Threat in Crohn's Disease?
1 Department of Gastroenterology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
2 Department of Internal Medicine B, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
3 Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
4 Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Summary
Crohn's disease patients undergoing anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy such as infliximab face potential risks from opportunistic infections. We introduce the unique case of a 66-year-old male Crohn's patient, previously in remission, presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms following a trip to the Czechia. Despite concerns of reactivated tuberculosis due to infliximab, his biopsies showed the presence of Mycobacterium simiae (M. simiae). Despite this, anti-TNF therapy was continued and resulted in clinical improvement. This is a case report of M. simiae in intestinal biopsies of an immunocompromised Crohn's patient is a clinical challenge. The findings suggest the benign colonization of M. simiae potentially influences future treatment considerations in similar clinical scenarios.