Primary inoculation complex of skin by Mycobacterium chelonei

We report a patient with a primary inoculation complex of the skin caused by Mycobacterium chelonei, a facultative pathogen that belongs to group IV of Runyon's classification of atypical mycobacteria. This organism is seldom responsible for disease in humans, although cutaneous, pulmonary, heart, bone, and disseminated infections have been reported. An unusual cutaneous manifestation of this organism is presented with a review of the literature.