title: Treatment of sporotrichoid fish tank granuloma with pulsed clarithromycin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no established therapy of choice for Mycobacterium marinum skin infections; clarithromycin monotherapy was used in some anecdotical cases at changeable daily doses and length.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pulsed clarithromycin monotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  29 patients with a clinical diagnosis of sporotrichoid fish tank granuloma were admitted from 2002 to 2013. In 14 patients, the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by history, histopathology and bacteriological examinations. All patients were treated with clarithromycin (500 mg/day for 10 consecutive days/month for 5 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 12 out of 14 patients (85.7%) complete clinical remission was recorded. Two patients showed partial remission after 3 months of therapy, but they were lost to follow-up and were therefore not considered evaluable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that pulsed clarithromycin monotherapy is effective and safe in sporotrichoid M. marinum skin infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, IRCCS Foundation Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veraldi
authors.forename: Ermira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cuka
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nazzaro
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug / Q000379:methods; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D017291:Clarithromycin