A case of cutaneous mycobacterium abscessus infection

Abstract

We report a case of cutaneous Mycobacterium (M.) abscessus infection in a 32-year-old woman who presented with a red infiltrated plaque on her left shin. No history of prior trauma was reported, but she had a history of habitual leg shaving. Skin biopsy specimen showed neutrophilic abscesses with poorly defined granulomas in the lower dermis and subcutaneous tissue, as well as some acid-fast bacilli. The microorganism was identified as M. abscessus by tissue culture and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. The patient was treated with clarithromycin and cefaclor for 4 months, and there was no evidence of recurrence at 6 month follow-up.