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Cutaneous M ycobacterium massiliense infection associated with cupping therapy
Author(s) -
Lee S. Y.,
Sin J. I.,
Yoo H. K.,
Kim T. S.,
Sung K. Y.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/ced.12431
Subject(s) - medicine , nontuberculous mycobacteria , antibiotics , pathogen , dermatology , skin infection , cupping therapy , mycobacterium , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , immunology , staphylococcus aureus , bacteria , biology , tuberculosis , genetics , alternative medicine , acupuncture
Summary Nontuberculous mycobacteria ( NTM ) are ubiquitous organisms that are now seen as emerging human pathogens. NTM infections are very difficult to diagnose and treat, therefore a high index of clinical suspicion is needed for diagnosis. Cutaneous NTM infections have been primarily reported associated with previous invasive procedures. We report the case of a healthy 59‐year‐old woman who developed recurring abdominal skin lesions caused by M ycobacterium massiliense after she underwent noninvasive cupping therapy. We identified the pathogen using a PCR assay targeting the erm (41) gene of the bacterium. The patient was treated successfully by en bloc excision and long‐term antibiotic treatment. This case shows that cutaneous infection with M . massiliense may occur in an immunocompetent person without an antecedent invasive procedure.