Cutaneous infection due to Mycobacterium abscessus. A case report

Erythematous nodular and ulcerating skin lesions occurred in a 56-year-old woman treated with chemotherapy and glucocorticosteroids for metastatic breast cancer. Subsequent culture yielded Mycobacterium abscessus, a facultative pathogen which exists as a saprophyte in the environment and rarely produces clinical disease in humans. This organism is usually relatively resistant to antituberculous as well as a number of other antimicrobial agents. On the basis of in vitro susceptibility results, treatment with clarithromycin and clofazimine was installed and resolution of the lesions initiated. This report emphasizes once again that one should investigate any new or unusual skin lesions in immunocompromised patients by histology and culture of biopsies, including cultures for acidfast organisms.