Mycobacterium mucogenicum isolated from a patient with granulomatous hepatitis

Mycobacterium mucogenicum is a recently characterized, rapid-growing mycobacteria rarely seen in human infections. We describe the case of a 51-year-old man with rapidly progressive granulomatous hepatitis caused by M mucogenicum. Although premortem evaluation failed to identify an etiologic agent, autopsy liver cultures produced smooth, rapid-growing mycobacterial colonies. Biochemical, growth, and cell wall fatty acid characteristics were consistent with the identification of M mucogenicum.