Mycobacterium phocaicum detection in a child with a dysfunctional bioprosthetic valve

Nontuberculous mycobacteria have been identified as the cause of bioprosthetic valve dysfunction in adults. In 2006 Mycobacterium phocaicum has been isolated by means of rpoB gene sequencing and has since been identified as the cause of bacteremia in pediatric hematology-oncology patients. We observed growth of Mycobacterium phocaicumon the bioprosthesis of a child suffering from infective endocarditis after cardiac surgery.