Abstract: Objective To improve the understanding of Mmycobacterium abscessus(M.abscessus)pulmonary disease.Method Retrospective analyze the information of 47cases with M.abscessus pulmonary disease from Jan.1998 to Dec.2001.Results There were 15 cases of M.abscessus pulmonary disease accompanied with pulmonary tuberculosis,whereas the other 32 cases without pulmonary tuberculosis.31 cases were treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs before diagnosis.The main clinical symptoms included cough,expectoration with sputum,hemoptysis.On the chest X-ray,78.7% patients’ disease focuses were distributed over 3 pulmonary fields.59.6%cases in X-ray chest film were seen lesions bilaterally,31.9% in right side and 8.5%in the left.48.9% patients were accompanied with cavities.The resistant rates were high to isoniazid,rifampin,streptomycin,ethambulol,protionamide,pasiniazide and rifapentine,while lower to amikacin,capreomycin,levofloxacin,and clarithromycin relatively.Conclusion M.abscessus pulmonary disease is characterized with long progress,nonspecific symptoms,high resistant rate to anti-tuberculosis drug and unsatisfactory result of therapy.

Key words: Mycobacterium,abscessus, Lung disease, Clinical studies