Sporotrichoid atypical cutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium marinum.
A case of a sporotrichoid cutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium marinum is reported. A 53- year-old male patient presented with red, partly purulent nodular lesions on the back of his left hand, forearm, and upper medial arm that had developed consecutively during the past 4 weeks. A mycobacterial infection with M. marinum was confirmed by molecular methods in a lesional skin biopsy. The patient was treated systemically with rifampicin (750 mg/day) and clarithromycine (1,000 mg/day), and topically with sulmycin (gentamicin sulfate). After 12 weeks of treatment the nodules regressed, leaving behind erythematous patches. M. marinum is a waterborne mycobacterium that commonly infects fish and amphibians worldwide. Transmissions to humans occur occasionally, in most cases as a granulomatous infection localized to the skin, typically following minor trauma to the hands. For this reason, infections are especially common among aquarium keepers.
Tigges
Frauke
F
Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Dresden, Germany. frauketigges@web.de
Bauer
Andrea
A
Hochauf
Kristina
K
Meurer
Michael
M
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D019910:Mycobacterium marinum; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents