A surgical wound infection due to Mycobacterium chelonae successfully treated with clarithromycin.
BACKGROUND
Mycobacterium chelonae is an uncommon but recognized cause of chronic localized cutaneous infection at a site of penetrating trauma or a surgical wound.


OBJECTIVE
The problem faced by physicians encountering an infection by M. chelonae is often response to therapy, which may be highly variable.


METHODS
We describe an immunocompetent patient who developed a localized infection due to M. chelonae following surgery for a basal cell carcinoma of the lower leg.


RESULTS
The infection responded to treatment with clarithromycin.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical efficacy of clarithromycin and the salient features of M. chelonae infection and its treatment are discussed.
Saluja
A
A
University of Michigan Medical Center, Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0314, USA.
Peters
N T
NT
Lowe
L
L
Johnson
T M
TM
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin