Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42163136›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2026

Case report from a pediatric multidrug-resistant tuberculosis case with Tsukamurella co-infection identified by whole-genome sequencing: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

Yeshiwork Abebaw, Arash Ghodousi, Dawit Hailu Alemayehu, Abaysew Ayele, Gebremedhin Gebremicael, Yohannes Nugusa, Genet Asaye, Getu Diriba, Muluwork Getahun, Andrea MaurizioCabibbe and 4 more

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In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Yeshiwork AbebawDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. yabebaw18@gmail.com.
Arash GhodousiVita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Dawit Hailu AlemayehuArmauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Abaysew AyeleDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Gebremedhin GebremicaelEthiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Yohannes NugusaSelale University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Fitch, Ethiopia.
Genet AsayeMinistry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Getu DiribaEthiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Muluwork GetahunEthiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Andrea MaurizioCabibbeEmerging Bacterial Pathogens Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Markos AbebeArmauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Anandi ShethDepartment of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States of America.
Rahel ArgawDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Woldaregay Erku AbegazDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Funding

Ethiopia-Emory TB Research Training ProgramD43TW009127 · FIC · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI HENRY M BLUMBERG, Kidist Bobosha · 2013 to 2026
$3.4M
FIC NIH HHS D43 TW009127U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fogarty International Center D43TW009127
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTsukamurella species are rarely reported pathogens that can clinically mimic tuberculosis (TB). We report a challenging case of Tsukamurella species co-occurring with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in a pediatric patient. CASE PRESENTATION: A 12-year-old HIV-negative female with a previous history of tuberculosis was admitted in August 2021 to Selale University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Ethiopia. She was diagnosed with MDR-TB and started on an all-oral bedaquiline-containing regimen. Whole genome sequencing later identified co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lineage 3 (Central Asian Strain) and Tsukamurella spp.

conclusionThis case highlights the critical importance of considering Tsukamurella sp. co-infection in patients with culture-positive MDR-TB who exhibit an atypical or persistent clinical course. The diagnostic mimicry between these pathogens necessitates the use of advanced microbiological techniques for accurate identification, as standard TB workflows may overlook such rare co-infections.

Indexed as

ActinobacteriaActinomycetales InfectionsCoinfectionTuberculosis, Multidrug-ResistantAntitubercular AgentsChildEthiopiaFemaleHumansMycobacterium tuberculosisWhole Genome SequencingAntitubercular AgentsMycobacterium tuberculosis-Tsukamurella species co-infectionTsukamurella speciesTuberculosisWhole genome sequencing

Identifiers

PMID42163136
PMCPMC13371299

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.