Mycobacterium chelonae Cutaneous Infection: A Challenge for an Internist

Abstract

Cutaneous infections caused by the Mycobacterium chelonae complex show a heterogeneous clinical presentation, which varies according to the patient’s immune status. Most standard antimycobacterials have no effect against these species. Clarithromycin alone was shown to provide adequate treatment, although resistance has been reported. Consequently, the literature supports multi-drug therapy to combat resistant strains. Here, we describe the case of a 59-year-old man under systemic immunosuppressive therapy who developed cutaneous lesions whose evolution was highly suggestive of atypical infection.

Clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of extrapulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infections with rapid and slow growth rates in Cali, Colombia

“…Drugs such as amikacin, azithromycin, clofazimine, clarithromycin, cipro oxacin, doxycycline, imipenem, levo oxacin, linezolid, sulfamethoxazole, tigecycline, and tobramycin have demonstrated activity in human studies and in vitro microbiological activity [4,32].…”

“…A patient immunosuppressed by biological therapies who developed joint involvement due to M. chelonae infection was treated for 12 months with clarithromycin combined with moxi oxacin and experienced early relapse, and a patient with an infection associated with cosmetic procedures was treated for 6 months with curative criteria and no relapse. M. chelonae infection is associated with cutaneous infections in immunocompetent patients, and in Colombia, it has been related to infections in HIV-positive individuals [6,7,32].…”