Open AccessLymphocutaneous spread of Mycobacterium elephantis in an immunocompetent individual: A case report
Author(s) -
Brett Edwards,
Ranjani Somayaji,
Dina Fisher,
Justin Chia
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
sage open medical case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2050-313X
DOI - 10.1177/2050313x211034913
Subject(s) - medicine , pathogen , antimycobacterial , mycobacterium , lung , lung disease , mycobacterium tuberculosis , opportunistic pathogen , microbiology and biotechnology , abscess , tuberculosis , immunology , pathology , dermatology , biology , surgery , bacteria , pseudomonas aeruginosa , genetics
Mycobacterium elephantis was first described when isolated from an elephant that succumbed to lung abscess. However, despite this namesake, it is not associated with animals and has been described most often as a probable colonizer rather than pathogen in humans with chronic lung disease. In this report, we describe the first case of lymphocutaneous infection from M. elephantis, likely as a result of cutaneous inoculation with contaminated soil. This offers further evidence to its capabilities as a pathogen. We provide a review of the limited prior reports of M. elephantis and outline the available in vitro data on efficacy of various antimycobacterial agents.