Cutaneous Infection due to Mycobacterium fortuitum Originated from Soil / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium (M.) fortuitum is a rapidly growing mycobacterium. It is classified as Runyon's group IV with M. abcessus and M. chelonae that are mostly found in water and soil. M. fortuitum infection usually occurs after trauma, surgery or procedures such as acupuncture that cause cutaneous or soft tissue manifestations. We report a case of cutaneous infection due to M. fortuitum in a 72-year-old woman with erythematous deep-seated nodules on her left hand. She inflicted a minor injury to her left hand in a farm. Culture from skin biopsy specimens on 3% Ogawa medium yielded bacterial colonies after 5 days. The microorganism was subsequently identified as M. fortuitum by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The skin lesions were improved by antibiotic therapy with clarithromycin for 6 months.