Mycobacterium chelonae Is an Ubiquitous Atypical Mycobacterium

Case Reports in Dermatology
Miguel Pinto-GouveiaAmérico Figueiredo

Abstract

The type of cutaneous infection varies mainly according to the patient's immune status, and the disseminated form is mostly found in the context of immunosuppression. We report the case of a 62-year-old male who was under long-term systemic corticosteroid therapy and presented with a 7-month history of multiple painless cutaneous lesions at various stages of development: papules, nodules, pustules and hemorrhagic crusts, as well as small erosions and ulcers distributed over the limbs and scalp. Cutaneous biopsy showed a suppurative granulomatous infiltrate with abscess formation. Fite stain revealed numerous extracellular bacilli, suggesting mycobacterial infection, particularly by atypical mycobacteria. Culture of a skin sample revealed Mycobacterium chelonae. The patient started multidrug therapy and showed clinical improvement despite of resistance to one of the antibiotics. This striking presentation underlines the role of immunosuppression with corticotherapy as a major risk factor for these infections. Multidrug therapy is advised and antibiogram is essential in directing treatment.

Citations

Feb 24, 2018·BMJ Case Reports·Vinod Kumar MannelliNaga Preethi Kadiri
May 9, 2019·SAGE Open Medical Case Reports·Anaïs DuBowMark Krasny
Sep 26, 2020·Access Microbiology·Arghadip SamaddarGopal Krishna Bohra
May 24, 2018·Current Infectious Disease Reports·Cory J PettitBenjamin Kaffenberger

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
biopsy

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antifungals

An antifungal, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Discover the latest research on antifungals here.

Antifungals (ASM)

An antifungal, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Discover the latest research on antifungals here.