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Mycobacterium fortuitum
Non pigmented (non chromagen).
Epidemiology:
-> causes HIV-associated mycobacterial infection
Pathology:
1) disseminated multiorgan disease
2) cutaneous lesions
- immunosuppressed patients
- generally after trauma, surgery, catheterization, cosmetic procedures
- Mycobacterium fortuitum furunculosis occurs in patients who obtain pedicures at nail salons that use contaminated whirlpool footbaths [1,2]
- skin biopsy: necrotizing granulomatous dermatitis
Clinical manifestations:
- erythematous nodules & paplules
- furuculosis & ulceration
Laboratory:
- rapidly growing in culture
- cultures generally positive within 1 week vs 2-6 weeks
- case report of positive culture in 4 days [1]
- also see Mycobacterium
Management:
- not susceptible to standard anti-tuberculosis drugs
- most strains are susceptible to clarithromycin & amikacin
- other potentially useful agents include: Bactrim, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, imipenem, cefoxitin
- minimum of 4 months of therapy
General
Mycobacterium
Properties
KINGDOM: monera
DIVISION: SCHIZOMYCETES
References
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, 15, 17
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998, 2009, 2015
- Winthrop KL, Abrams M, Yakrus M et al
An outbreak of mycobacterial furunculosis associated with
footbaths at a nail salon.
N Engl J Med. 2002 May 2;346(18):1366-71.
PMID: 11986410 Free Article