- See: Myobacterium tuberculosis
- Discussion:
- causes chronic granuloma of the hand or a sub acute inflammation, which may be difficult to distinguish from chronic tenosynovitis or chronic inflammation of the fingers or the hand;
- can be confused w/ rheumatoid hand and will temporarily respond to steroid injection;
- organism is usually associated with swimming, fish handling, etc;
- Clinical Finding:
- painful swelling in the hand;
- subcutaneous mass;
- tenosynovitis, which involves the extensors more frequently then the flexors;
- Gram Stain: utilizes Ziehl Neelson staining;
- Culture:
- culture must be incubated at 30-32 deg (rather than 37 deg), & must be incubated w/ Lowenstein-Jensen medium - often culture for 6 weeks in required;
- Treatment:
- ethambutol and rifampin are curative;
- also consider oral minocycline which has lesser side effects;
- synovectomy and debridement are often required
References
Mycobacterium marinum infections of the hand.
Experience with atypical mycobacterial infection in the deep structures of the hand.
Buruli's ulcer: three cases diagnosed and treated in France.