Korean J Dermatol.  2012 Jan;50(1):56-59.

Mycobacterium fortuitum Infection after Footbath

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. jylee@catholic.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Mycobacterium fortuitum is one of the rapidly-growing atypical mycobacteria, belonging to Runyon group IV. M. fortuitum infection is usually related to trauma, injections and surgical procedures, and is resistant to treatment with anti-tuberculous agents. Herein, we report on a case of M. fortuitum infection after footbath. A 51-year-old male presented with painful, erythematous nodules and plaques with crust and purulent discharge on the lower legs for 3 months. The skin lesion occurred after two herb and aroma footbaths and leg massage. He went to the massage shop again, and received the footbath one more time. The skin lesion aggravated and he visited a hospital, then the skin biopsy was performed but the result was unremarkable. He was treated with antihistamine and antibiotics but there was no improvement. So he visited our hospital, and culture demonstrated atypical mycobacterium, which was identified as M. fortuitum by polymerase chain reaction. He was treated with oral clarythromycin for 5 months, and the skin lesions have improved.

Keyword

Footbath; Mycobaterial infection; Mycobacterium fortuitum

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biopsy
Humans
Leg
Male
Massage
Middle Aged
Mycobacterium
Mycobacterium fortuitum
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Skin
Anti-Bacterial Agents
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