A Case of Sporotrichoid Cutaneous Infection Caused by Mycobacterium marinum

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium marinum is a nontuberculous mycobacterium responsible for skin infection. Risk factors include a history of trauma and water/fish-related hobbies or occupations. This infection is characteristically limited to the skin but deep soft tissue may be involved. We report a case of M. marinum infection in a 51-year-old man with ulcer and erythematous nodules on his right hand. The patient owned a tropical fish tank and remembered having previous hand trauma. The lesions extended to his forearm and formed sporotrichoid appearance. M. marinum was isolated from tissue specimens. The patient was treated with rifampin, etambutol and clarithromycin for 5 months, then the skin lesions were cured. The key to the diagnosis of this case are clinical awareness and a detailed history. M. marinum infection should be considered in chronic sporotrichoid skin lesions, particularly when there is a clinical suspicion on an infectious cause, and it could lead to successful treatment.