Infección cutánea por Mycobacterium chelonae. Revisión de seis casos

Abstract

Abstract—Mycobacterium chelonae (M. chelonae) is a rapid-growth atypical mycobacteria, which belongs to Runyon group IV. Infection often develops either in patients with immunosuppresion or in immunocompetent hosts associated with penetrating trauma or injury.We present six female immunocompetent patients, who presented nodules, plaques or ulcers, with abscess formation and clear fluid drainage that followed a protracted course in spite of cloxaciline therapy. Although one patient referred a previous history of liposuction, the others did not recall an inoculation size. Treatment of M. chelonae infection required oral clarithromicina for at least 3 months, in addition to other drugs. The histopathologic analysis showed an inflammatory infiltrate, and abscess and granuloma formation. M. chelonae was cultured from skin biopsy specimens.Although M. chelonae infection usually occurs in immunologically compromised patients or may follow puncture wound or trauma, our series shows that chronic suppurative lesions in otherwise healthy women with no previous trauma might be due to M. chelonae.