title: Short course monotherapy with clarithromycin for localized Mycobacterium marinum skin infection.
abstract: In vitro studies have shown that Mycobacterium marinum is usually susceptible to clarithromycin. However, there are limited published data on the clinical use of clarithromycin for the treatment of M marinum infections. This report describes a previously healthy 58-year-old man who developed a chronic soft tissue infection of his right hand caused by M marinum. He responded to four weeks' therapy with clarithromycin. Follow-up at six months showed no relapse. Our experience and review of the literature suggest that short course monotherapy with clarithromycin may be quite effective for uncomplicated soft issue infections caused by M marinum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mazzulli