Skin nontumor
Infectious disorders
Mycobacteria-atypical
Last author update: 1 March 2015
Last staff update: 12 September 2022
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PubMed Search: Mycobacteria skin
See Also: Mycobacteria non-TB
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Epidemiology | Clinical features | Case reports | Clinical images | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Molecular / cytogenetics descriptionCite this page: Hamodat M. Mycobacteria-atypical. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/skinnontumoratypicalmyco.html. Accessed September 28th, 2023.
Definition / general
- Skin disorders (ulcerations, abscesses, rheumatoid-like nodules, histiocytic reactions, panniculitis), most commonly due to M. kansasii, M. marinum, M. ulcerans
Epidemiology
- Nontuberculous mycobacteria are nonpathogenetic; they inhabit vegetation and water (stagnant, fresh or salty) and are saprophytic in soil, on animals and within animal feces
- Mycobacterium marinum is contracted most often in swimming pools (swimming pool granuloma, fish tank granuloma)
- Mycobacterium ulcerans is third most common mycobacterial disease in immunocompetent after tuberculosis and leprosy; often in tropical wetlands of Central and West Africa (Buruli ulcer), particularly areas with high prevalence of schistosomiasis (Trop Med Int Health 2001;6:554)
Clinical features
- Upper limbs are common site of infection
- Typically cause painless inflammatory nodules or plaques that may ulcerate and discharge
- Mycobacterium kansasii mainly affects lung and lymph nodes, rarely causes skin lesions; has nodules which may be verrucous or become crusted ulcers; also papulopustules, cellulitis or spreading infection resembling sporotrichosis
- Rarely, squamous cell carcinoma may arise in a chronic Buruli ulcer
Case reports
- 52 year old woman with foot infection (University of Pittsburgh)
- 61 year old woman with SLE and Sjögren syndrome (Dermatology Online Journal 16(11):21)
Clinical images
Images hosted on other servers:
Swimming pool granuloma
Swollen, red papules and nodules
Ulcer on the lateral surface of the fifth toe
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Usually early cutaneous necrosis with abscess formation; abscess is gradually replaced by granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis
Microscopic (histologic) images
Contributed by Mark R. Wick, M.D.
Subcutis
Fite stain
Images hosted on other servers:
Granulomatous inflammation, a Fite stain
Molecular / cytogenetics description
- PCR with liquid media facilitates species identification
