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Mycobacterium abscessus infection complicating a professional tattoo
Bernadette Ricciardo1, David Weedon, Gregory Butler
1Department of Dermatology, Royal Perth Hospital, East Perth, Western Australia, Australia. berniricciardo@yahoo.com.au
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology
|January 5, 2011
Summary
A rare Mycobacterium abscessus infection caused a skin rash in a tattooed individual. Prompt antibiotic treatment with minocycline and clarithromycin led to successful recovery.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Atypical mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium abscessus, are increasingly recognized as opportunistic pathogens.
- Tattooing procedures, while common, carry inherent risks of infection due to potential contamination of equipment or inks.
Observation:
- A healthy 23-year-old male developed a tender, papular skin eruption localized to the grey pigment of a new professional tattoo.
- The clinical presentation raised suspicion for an atypical mycobacterial infection.
Findings:
- Tissue culture confirmed the presence of Mycobacterium abscessus, an uncommon cause of skin infections in immunocompetent individuals.
- The patient responded well to a treatment regimen involving minocycline followed by clarithromycin.
Implications:
- This case highlights Mycobacterium abscessus as a potential pathogen in post-tattoo infections, even in healthy individuals.
- The findings underscore the importance of considering atypical mycobacterial infections in the differential diagnosis of tattoo-associated skin reactions.
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