title: Mycobacterium abscessus Hand Infections in Immunocompetent Fish Handlers: Case Report.
abstract: Mycobacterium abscessus hand infections are rare and usually occur in immunocompromised patients or after injection with contaminated injectables. This article describes 2 cases of M abscessus infection of the hand in otherwise healthy fish handlers. Mycobacterium abscessus can cause severe chronic tenosynovitis even in immunocompetent patients and should be suspected alongside the more common M marinum as a cause of nontuberculous mycobacterial hand infections in patients with aquatic and fish exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. gavinkangcw@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Gavin C W
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Aaron W T
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yam
authors.forename: Agnes B H
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Shian Chao
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005511:Food Handling; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification*; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D035583:Rare Diseases; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D013717:Tenosynovitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents