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Disseminated cutaneous Mycobacterium chelonae infection in an immunocompetent host
Author(s) -
Halpern J.,
Biswas A.,
Cadwgan A.,
Tan B. B.
Publication year - 2010
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/j.1365-2230.2009.03416.x
Subject(s) - mycobacterium chelonae , clarithromycin , tobramycin , medicine , mycobacterium , abscess , dermatology , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , surgery , biology , tuberculosis , gentamicin
Summary Mycobacterium chelonae is a rare, rapidly growing, atypical acid‐fast bacillus. Disseminated cutaneous infection has been reported in immunocompromised patients. We report an immunocompetent 86‐year‐old white woman, who presented with an 8‐month history of extensive ulcerated abscess‐like nodules. Mycobacterial culture confirmed M. chelonae infection and the patient was treated with a combination of clarithromycin and tobramycin. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spontaneous, disseminated cutaneous disease occurring in an immunocompetent patient.