Disseminated cutaneous infection with Mycobacterium chelonae in a renal transplant recipient

Mycobacterium chelonae belongs to a rapidly growing group of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). These organisms are environmental saprophytes that can cause infection in humans. Nontuberculous mycobacteria infections have been described in immunosuppressed patients (eg, in the setting of AIDS or immunotherapy following solid organ transplantation) as well as in immunocompetent patients with certain predisposing factors (eg, recent history of a traumatic wound, recent drug injections, impaired cell-mediated immunity). Due to the increasing prevalence of immune deficiency disorders as well as the rising number of cosmetic procedures performed on healthy individuals, NTM may become a frequent cause of serious morbidity, causing chronic infections of the skin, soft tissue, and lungs. We report a case of M chelonae infection in a 61-year-old woman who was receiving immunosuppressive therapy following renal transplantation 6 years prior to presentation. It is important for clinicians to consider NTM in the differential diagnosis for patients who present with chronic skin or soft tissue infections.