title: Mycobacterial infection identified with broad-range PCR amplification and suspension array identification.
abstract: The case of a 66-year-old female who developed sudden redness and swelling of her left thumb is presented. A biopsy showed well formed granulomas, mixed inflammation with a predominance of neutrophils, and acid-fast bacilli. After negative culture results, tissue was sent for a broad-range polymerase chain reaction amplification followed by suspension array identification, which classified the pathogenic organism as Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare. The patient was started on clarithromycin, rifabutin and ethambutol leading to clinical improvement. M. avium-intracellulare is present in soil, fresh water, sea water, dairy products and some animal tissues. Primary cutaneous manifestations are uncommon in the immunocompetent host. As cultures may be negative or can take up to three weeks to show growth, the molecular approach described here offers an opportunity for more rapid and specific diagnosis.
authors: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Casey A
authors: CA
authors: Carlos
authors: Yi-Wei
authors: YW
authors: Tang
authors: Donald J
authors: DJ
authors: Adler
authors: Carrie L
authors: CL
authors: Kovarik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017828:Rifabutin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013933:Thumb; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017828:Rifabutin; D004977:Ethambutol; D017291:Clarithromycin