title: Mycobacterium abscessus infection complicating a professional tattoo.
abstract: A healthy 23-year-old man presented with a tender papular eruption confined to the grey pigment of a recently acquired professional tattoo. Atypical mycobacterial infection was suspected and culture of a tissue specimen grew Mycobacterium abscessus. He was successfully treated with minocycline and subsequently, clarithromycin. We present a brief review of M. abscessus infection, with a particular focus on its role in nosocomial infections and in the post-tattoo setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Royal Perth Hospital, East Perth, Western Australia, Australia. berniricciardo@yahoo.com.au
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ricciardo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weedon
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008911:Minocycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000382:microbiology*; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008911:Minocycline; D017291:Clarithromycin