title: Disseminated cutaneous Mycobacterium chelonae infection in an immunocompetent host.
abstract: Mycobacterium chelonae is a rare, rapidly growing, atypical acid-fast bacillus. Disseminated cutaneous infection has been reported in immunocompromised patients. We report an immunocompetent 86-year-old white woman, who presented with an 8-month history of extensive ulcerated abscess-like nodules. Mycobacterial culture confirmed M. chelonae infection and the patient was treated with a combination of clarithromycin and tobramycin. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spontaneous, disseminated cutaneous disease occurring in an immunocompetent patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, UK. james_halpern@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cadwgan
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin; D014031:Tobramycin