Under the Sea: Superficial Skin Infection With an Atypical Cause

Pediatric Emergency Care
Callie E HansenRichard H Schwartz

Abstract

Traumatic abrasions on human extremities as a result of direct contact with sea, lake, river, or aquarium animals or from traumatic injuries sustained in seawater may develop into solitary or linear granulomatous lesions. One of the more common microbial etiologies for such infections is Mycobacterium marinum. An astute pediatrician, family physician, or nurse practitioner should have a high index of suspicion and obtain specific cultures to support the growth of Mycobacterium species. Mycobacterium marinum infections will not respond to antibiotics typically chosen to treat simple skin and soft tissue infections. Rather, M. marinum infections are best treated by prolonged antimicrobial treatment regimens for 3 to 6 months and, in some cases, may require polypharmacologic therapy. We present the case of a 6-year-old girl who suffered a traumatic abrasion on her right ankle in seawater. For 10 days, the skin infection morphed from cellulitis, papules, pustules, and eventually into sporotrichoid linear granuloma. After several failed antibiotic trials, M. marinum was eventually identified from the depth of her lesions. The patient improved after a 3-month course of clarithromycin. This case report is the first to include pictures...Continue Reading

References

Dec 1, 1989·The Journal of Infectious Diseases·C W HogeJ G Morris
Apr 1, 1985·The Journal of Hygiene·C H CollinsM D Yates
Jul 29, 2003·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·Felicia M T LewisC Fordham von Reyn

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 6, 2018·Open Forum Infectious Diseases·Christina R VargasJames Gatherwright

❮ Previous
Next ❯

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.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis (erysipelas) is a recurring and debilitating bacterial infection of the skin and underlying tissue. Discover the latest research on cellulitis 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.