title: Body piercing complicated by atypical mycobacterial infections.
abstract: Body piercing is a growing trend, especially in young people, but the literature on complications of piercing consists mostly of case reports involving ear piercing. Previous reported complications of piercing include contact dermatitis, keloids, traumatic tearing, viral transmission, and bacterial infections. We report two patients who presented with atypical mycobacterial infections of body piercing sites. It is important to recognize the association of piercing and mycobacterial infections so that tissue can be obtained for histopathologic examination and appropriate culture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822, USA. tferringer@geisinger.edu
authors.forename: Tammie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ferringer
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pride
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tyler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D046288:Body Piercing; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae / Q000302:isolation & purification