The incidence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary diseases in HIVnegative patients was studied prospectively from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2003 by 32 sentinel sites distributed throughout France.In total, 262 patients who yielded NTM isolates from respiratory clinical specimens, met the bacteriological, radiological and clinical criteria established by the American Thoracic Society for NTM respiratory disease. Among the 262 NTM isolates, 234 were slow-growing mycobacteria (125 Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC), 66 M. xenopi, 34 M. kansasii) and 28 were rapidly growing mycobacteria (25 M. abscessus complex). In the Paris area, M. xenopi was the most frequently isolated species, followed by MAC.Most patients (.50%), except those with M. kansasii, had underlying predisposing factors such as pre-existing pulmonary disease or immune deficiency. Asthenia, weight loss, chronic cough and dyspnoea were the most common clinical symptoms. The classical radiological appearance of NTM infections was indistinguishable from that observed in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.In summary, the incidence of nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary infections in HIVnegative patients was estimated at 0.74, 0.73 and 0.72 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in

Vibrio cholerae serogroups O1 or O139 are the aetiological agents of cholera. The pathogenicity of non-O1, non-O139 V. cholerae is less well known. These worldwide bacteria are responsible for gastrointestinal infections or, more rarely, bacteraemia in patients with an underlying disease, leading to life-threatening complications. We report a case of non-O1, non-O139 V. cholerae bacteraemia due to a haemolytic strain in a cirrhotic patient. Early antibiotherapy allowed a good outcome. The aim of this case report is to underline the virulence of non-choleragenic Vibrio strains, possibly linked to haemolysin production, and the potential danger of consuming undercooked seafood or exposing wounds to sea water in cirrhotic patients.

Congenital tuberculosis (TB) remains a rare disease but is fatal if untreated. Early detection is difficult because of the non-specific nature of the symptoms in TB during pregnancy and infancy. This report summarizes a case of congenital TB in a very premature infant, born at 25 weeks gestation. Miliary TB was diagnosed in the mother when the neonate was 20 days old. Antituberculous therapy allowed a rapid improvement in the mother. The infant died at 27 days old. A Beijing genotype strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated both in the mother, from pulmonary and urine specimens, and in the infant, from peritoneal fluid.

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