Three Cases of Primary Inoculation Tuberculosis as a Result of Illegal Acupuncture
Annals of Dermatology
;
: 341-345, 2010.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-46878
ABSTRACT
Primary inoculation tuberculosis results from the direct inoculation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the skin of a person who has no natural or artificially acquired immunity to the organism. The pathogenesis requires a break in the skin from an abrasion or injury that allows entry of the tubercle bacilli. We report 3 cases of primary inoculation tuberculosis resulting from illegal acupuncture. Three patients over 70 years old presented with erythematous, ulcerative, indurated plaques on the back. Skin lesions had developed at the acupuncture sites 1 or 2 weeks after a session of acupuncture, which was intended to relieve back pain. An unlicensed, non-medically trained person conducted each session. The patients' past medical and family histories were unremarkable. Granulomatous inflammatory infiltration and acid-fast bacilli were observed histologically. M. tuberculosis was identified by mycobacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction. Nine months after the initiation of antituberculosis medication, skin lesions improved, and no evidence of recurrence or other organ involvement was observed at the 1-year follow-up visit.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Recurrence
/
Skin
/
Tuberculosis
/
Ulcer
/
Polymerase Chain Reaction
/
Follow-Up Studies
/
Back Pain
/
Acupuncture
/
Adaptive Immunity
/
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Annals of Dermatology
Year:
2010
Type:
Article
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