title: Mycobacterium ulcerans infection diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: Mycobacterium ulcerans infection is the third most important mycobacterial infection world-wide affecting immunocompetent individuals and causes chronic progressive skin ulcers. It has been described in many different regions world-wide. The diagnosis of M. ulcerans infection is often delayed because the diagnosis is difficult to make when new cases appear outside known endemic areas. However, molecular methods are now available to diagnose and distinguish M. ulcerans from other mycobacteria, allowing rapid diagnosis. Presented here is the case of a previously well girl from Townsville, Queensland, with extensive M. ulcerans infection involving the elbow joint, triceps tendon and underlying bone. Rapid diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction confirmed M. ulcerans infection. This is the first known case of M. ulcerans infection from Townsville in over 25 years, highlighting the changing epidemiology of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria, Australia. rusself@cryptic.rch.unimelb.edu
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Starr
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hayman
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: P D R
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004550:Elbow; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D019911:Mycobacterium ulcerans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents