CASE REPORTS
JOURNAL ARTICLE
REVIEW
Mycobacterium marinum skin infections. Report of 31 cases and review of the literature.
Archives of Internal Medicine 1994 June 28
BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium marinum is a rare cause of skin infections, and its treatment has been based primarily on the personal experience and preferences of individual investigators without the benefit of large studies.
METHODS: Thirty-one patients with confirmed M marinum infection were identified at 33 Kaiser Permanente Northern California Region medical centers by microbiologic records, and their charts were reviewed.
RESULTS: The upper extremity was affected in 90% of cases, and lymphatic or local spread was seen during the initial examination or during observation in 25 patients (81%). Granuloma was present in 22 (63%) of 35 biopsy specimens, and staining for acid-fast bacteria yielded positive results in two of 22 specimens. Cure or improvement occurred in 22 (81%) of 27 patients in whom outcome could be evaluated. Treatment with ethambutol plus rifampin appeared more successful (effective in five [100%] of five cases) than minocycline treatment (effective in 10 [71%] of 14 cases), although not significantly so (P = .28). Adverse reactions, most of which were gastrointestinal, occurred in five patients (18%).
CONCLUSION: Ethambutol plus rifampin appears more useful than minocycline in treating cutaneous M marinum infection. This result remains to be confirmed by larger clinical studies, which may be difficult because this infection is relatively rare.
METHODS: Thirty-one patients with confirmed M marinum infection were identified at 33 Kaiser Permanente Northern California Region medical centers by microbiologic records, and their charts were reviewed.
RESULTS: The upper extremity was affected in 90% of cases, and lymphatic or local spread was seen during the initial examination or during observation in 25 patients (81%). Granuloma was present in 22 (63%) of 35 biopsy specimens, and staining for acid-fast bacteria yielded positive results in two of 22 specimens. Cure or improvement occurred in 22 (81%) of 27 patients in whom outcome could be evaluated. Treatment with ethambutol plus rifampin appeared more successful (effective in five [100%] of five cases) than minocycline treatment (effective in 10 [71%] of 14 cases), although not significantly so (P = .28). Adverse reactions, most of which were gastrointestinal, occurred in five patients (18%).
CONCLUSION: Ethambutol plus rifampin appears more useful than minocycline in treating cutaneous M marinum infection. This result remains to be confirmed by larger clinical studies, which may be difficult because this infection is relatively rare.
Full text links
Trending Papers
Carvedilol, probably the β-blocker of choice for everyone with cirrhosis and portal hypertension: But not so fast!Liver International : Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver 2023 June
Evidence-Based Guideline for the diagnosis and management of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.Nature Reviews. Rheumatology 2023 May 10
Advances in Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment: Current Status and Future Directions.AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology 2023 May 19
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
Read by QxMD is copyright © 2021 QxMD Software Inc. All rights reserved. By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app