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Chronic leg ulcer caused by Mycobacterium immunogenum
Miriam A M Loots1, Menno D de Jong, Dick van Soolingen
1Department of Dermatology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Journal of Travel Medicine
|December 14, 2005
Summary
Rare tropical skin infections are increasing in Western countries due to travel. A leg ulcer caused by Mycobacterium immunogenum in a traveler to Central America healed with compression therapy.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Increased global travel leads to a rise in imported tropical diseases.
- Skin infections are a common manifestation of travel-related illnesses.
Observation:
- A 55-year-old male presented with a painless leg ulcer after visiting Guatemala and Belize.
- The patient had no prior history of skin conditions.
Findings:
- Mycobacterium immunogenum was identified from a biopsy of the leg ulcer using 16S recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing.
- The patient's leg ulcer demonstrated a favorable response to compression therapy and hydrocolloids.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering tropical infections in patients with unexplained skin lesions after travel.
- Early diagnosis and appropriate management, including compression therapy, can lead to successful healing of such ulcers.
- Mycobacterium immunogenum should be considered in the differential diagnosis of non-healing leg ulcers in travelers.
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