An outbreak of Mycobacterium chelonae infections in tattoos - 24/04/13
Abstract |
Nontuberculous mycobacteria infections may occur after cutaneous procedures. Review of the medical records of patients who developed a rash within a tattoo revealed 6 patients with skin infections caused by Mycobacterium chelonae after receiving tattoos by one artist at a single tattoo establishment. The interval between tattoo placement and the skin findings was 1 to 2 weeks. All patients received alternate diagnoses before mycobacterial infection was identified. Skin findings included pink, red, or purple papules; papules with scale; pustules; granulomatous papules; and lichenoid papules and plaques. Histopathologic examination revealed granuloma, lymphohistiocytic infiltrate, or mixed inflammation; acid-fast bacilli stains produced negative results. Diagnosis was made by culture in 3 patients, histopathology in two patients, and clinical/epidemiologic association in one patient. The M chelonae isolates were clarithromycin susceptible, and the infections responded to macrolide antibiotics. Physicians should consider mycobacterial infections in patients with skin findings within a new tattoo.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : atypical mycobacteria, Mycobacterium chelonae, nontuberculous mycobacteria, rapidly growing mycobacteria, skin and soft tissue infection, tattoo complication, tattoo infection
Abbreviations used : AFB, NTM, RGM
Plan
Funding sources: None. Conflicts of interest: None declared. |
Vol 62 - N° 3
P. 501-506 - mars 2010 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
L’accès au texte intégral de cet article nécessite un abonnement.
Déjà abonné à cette revue ?