Negative outcome in cutaneous Mycobacterium marinum infection treated with surgical intervention: Two-case report

Mycobacterium marinum (M marinum), a slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM), is widely distributed in aquatic environments. It is a well-known cutaneous pathogen, which causes sporotrichosis-like lesions.

In this report, we describe 2 cases of subcutaneous M marinum infection. Both patients underwent several surgical procedures at local hospitals, and despite optimal surgical site healing, new lesions appeared in adjacent sites.

Based on NTM culture, identification by gene sequencing, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, the diagnosis of subcutaneous NTM infection was confirmed.

The patients were treated with oral rifampicin 0.45 g/day and clarithromycin 1 g/day and oral doxycycline hydrochloride capsules (200 mg/day), respectively.

Both patients were treated for 8 and 5 weeks, respectively, and the lesions healed.

Surgical debridement cannot compete with or impede NTM lymphatic spread; antimicrobial therapy is the first choice for the treatment of M marinum infections.