title: Mycobacterium avium Auricular Infection in an Apparent Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report.
abstract: Soft tissue infections with Mycobacterium avium complex are more likely to appear in immunocompromised patients. However, they may rarely arise in non-immunosuppressed individuals.
  
  
  
  To present the case of an ear infection with Mycobacterium avium in the absence of demonstrable immunosuppression.
  
  
  
  Clinical case description, blood tests, routine histology and tissue cultures.
  
  
  
  A female, apparent immunocompetent patient presented with a 6-month reddish, oedematous and painless lesion with fine scaling in the right ear. Histology showed numerous granulomas, composed of epithelioid histiocytes without central necrosis. Cultures grew Mycobacterium avium. An unusual accidental ear injury was the portal of microbial entry. The patient's lesion fully regressed after a 9-month course of antibiotics.
  
  
  
  Although M. avium infections are rare in immunocompetent patients, the possibility of such infections should be considered even in these subjects, when relevant clinical features and exposure to risk factors are present.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vlachogianni
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volosyraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefanidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krueger-Krasagakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Evangelou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
authors.forename: Vrettos
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Haniotis
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
authors.forename: Diamantis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kofteridis
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Bacteriology, Parasitology, Zoonoses and Geographical Medicine, University General Hospital of
  Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krasagakis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000473:pathology*; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004977:Ethambutol; D017291:Clarithromycin