Persistent Cutaneous Infection Due to Mycobacterium Immunogenum, a Relatively Novel Species

Main Article Content

Skyler M White
Katrina N Kesterson
Michael G Wilkerson

Keywords

nontuberculous mycobacteria, mycobacterium immunogenum, atypical mycobacteria, cutaneous mycobacteria infection

Abstract

Mycobacterium immunogenum is a species of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) that has been recently identified as the cause of cutaneous infections.1-3 Historically, the majority of NTM infections were attributed to contamination of municipal water systems due to inadequate equipment sterilization.  Many of these organisms have been found to grow in distilled water and display resistance to chlorine, formaldehyde, mercury, and standard disinfectants.4 In the environment, M. immunogenum has been isolated in swimming pools and adjacent showers.5 A limited number of cutaneous infections with Mycobacterium immunogenum have been reported, and an even smaller number of cases have been reported in immunocompetent individuals. We report a case of a persistent cutaneous infection with M. immunogenum in a previously healthy patient successfully treated with clarithromycin 250 mg twice daily for eight weeks. After treatment, the patient remained free of infection and only a minimal scar remained.

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