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Pediatric Cutaneous Nontuberculous Mycobacterium Infections in Singapore
Author(s) -
Ng Shanna ShanYi,
Tay YongKwang,
Koh Mark JeanAan,
Thoon KohCheng,
Sng LiHwei
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pediatric dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1525-1470
pISSN - 0736-8046
DOI - 10.1111/pde.12575
Subject(s) - medicine , nontuberculous mycobacteria , mycobacterium abscessus , retrospective cohort study , incidence (geometry) , mycobacterium chelonae , antibiotics , cohort , dermatology , surgery , pediatrics , mycobacterium , tuberculosis , pathology , physics , microbiology and biotechnology , optics , biology
Background Nontuberculous mycobacterium ( NTM ) infections are rare in children, with limited published studies. The course of the disease can be variable and there are no accepted treatment guidelines for the management of NTM infections in children. Objective To review a cohort of pediatric patients admitted to a tertiary pediatric hospital in Singapore for cutaneous NTM infections. Methods A retrospective review was performed of all children admitted to KK Women's and Children's Hospital with cutaneous NTM infections from 2002 to 2012. Results Sixty‐seven patients with positive NTM cultures from various body sites were identified. Eight of the 67 patients (11.9%) presented with cutaneous NTM without evidence of systemic involvement. The mean age at diagnosis for these eight patients was 10 years (range 5–21 yrs). Mycobacterium abscessus was the most common NTM isolated (five patients), followed by Mycobacterium hemophilium (two patients) and Mycobacterium kansasii (one patient). Most patients presented with isolated skin abscesses. Two patients were immunocompromised. Six patients required multidrug antibiotic treatment for a median duration of 5.5 months (range 3–17 mos). The median follow‐up duration was 8.5 months (range 2 wks–29 mos). Conclusion Although the incidence of cutaneous NTM is rare, the diagnosis should be considered in patients presenting with chronic wounds. Most patients require treatment with multidrug antibiotic therapy, although uncomplicated abscesses can be treated with surgical incision and drainage alone.