Cutaneous Mycobacterium haemophilum infection in a kidney transplant recipient after acupuncture treatment.
Mycobacterium haemophilum is a slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacterium that can cause disease in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. The most common clinical presentations of infection are the appearance of suppurative and ulcerated skin nodules. For the diagnosis, samples collected from suspected cases must be processed under the appropriate conditions, because M. haemophilum requires lower incubation temperatures and iron supplementation in order to grow in culture. In this case report, we describe the occurrence of skin lesions in a kidney transplant recipient, caused by M. haemophilum, associated with acupuncture treatment. The diagnosis was established by direct smear and culture of material aspirated from cutaneous lesions. Species identification was achieved by characterization of the growth requirements and by partial sequencing of the hsp65 gene. The patient was successfully treated with clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin for 12 months. Considering that the number of patients receiving acupuncture treatment is widely increasing, the implications of this potential complication should be recognized, particularly in immunosuppressed patients.
Laboratory of Cellular, Genetic and Molecular Nephrology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
A N
AN
Castro-Silva
A O
AO
Freire
R S
RS
Grinbaum
M R
MR
Elmor de Araújo
H
H
Abensur
M R T
MR
Araújo
J E
JE
Romão
J L M
JL
Sampaio
I L
IL
Noronha
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D018393:Mycobacterium haemophilum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D017291:Clarithromycin