Pacemaker infection due to Mycobacterium fortuitum

Abstract

Clostridium tertium is infrequently isolated from blood in patients with underlying diseases. Laboratory diagnosis is often delayed because Clostridium tertium is aerotolerant and resistant to metronidazole. Clinically it is a problem because it is commonly resistant to metronidazole, clindamycin and cephalosporins. We present 3 cases illustrating these characteristics.