Nontuberculous mycobacteria infection of the skin. A descriptive cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Juliana Martínez del Sel Hospital of Clinics José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Eugenia Salinas Hospital of Clinics José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Lorena Canteros Hospital of Clinics José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • María de los Ángeles Juárez Hospital of Clinics José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Anahí Maidana Roa Hospital of Clinics José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Miguel Allevato Hospital of Clinics José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Keywords:

atypical mycobacteria, nontuberculous mycobacteria, mycobacteriosis

Abstract

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria are gram-positive, acid-resistant and aerobic bacilli. They are widely distributed in nature. Although the finding of these mycobacteria has been increasing, precise data are not available since they are not mandatory declaration diseases.
Objectives: To describe the epidemiology, the clinical manifestations, the histopathological findings and the causal agents of skin infection due to nontuberculous mycobacteria in patients treated at the Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín during the period from January 2010 to July 2018. To compare the findings obtained between immunocompetent and immunosupressed patients.
Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.
Methods: Medical records and skin biopsies from all patient were reviewed.
Results: Eight patients were included, six women and two men. Four of them were immunocompetent and four, immunocompromised. The first group presented with isolated lesions consisting of nodules¸ of which some fistulized and drained their content. The immnunosuprised patients presented with multiple lesions with similar characteristics predominantly of the lower limbs. Acute inflammation with microabscedation was the predominant
histopathological pattern in the six samples analyzed. Direct examinations were positive in four of the eight samples. Cultures were positive in the eight cases: three for M. chelonae, two for M. fortuitum and one for M. abscessus, M. kansasii and M. avium-intracellulare respectively.
Conclusions: Immunocompetent patients presented isolated lesions consisting of nodules, of which some fistulized and drained their content, coincident with previous trauma sites as the source of the infection. Immunosuprised patients presented with multiple and disseminated lesions with similar characteristics predominantly of the lower limbs. The most likely source of infection was intramuscular injection of methotrexate. Acute inflammation with microabscedation was the predominant histopathological pattern in both groups. Our results were similar to the consulted literature regarding epidemiology and clinical manifestations. We found differences in the histopathological and microbiological findings.

Author Biographies

Juliana Martínez del Sel, Hospital of Clinics José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Medical Dermatologist

Eugenia Salinas, Hospital of Clinics José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Medical Dermatologist

Lorena Canteros, Hospital of Clinics José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Biochemistry

María de los Ángeles Juárez, Hospital of Clinics José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Medical Pathologist

Anahí Maidana Roa, Hospital of Clinics José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Medical Pathologist

Miguel Allevato, Hospital of Clinics José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Division Chief

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Published

2019-12-02

Issue

Section

Original Articles