Mycobacterium abscessus Hand Infections in Immunocompetent Fish Handlers: Case Report
Mycobacterium abscessus hand infections are rare and usually occur in immunocompromised patients or after injection with contaminated injectables. This article describes 2 cases of M abscessus infection of the hand in otherwise healthy fish handlers. Mycobacterium abscessus can cause severe chronic tenosynovitis even in immunocompetent patients and should be suspected alongside the more common M marinum as a cause of nontuberculous mycobacterial hand infections in patients with aquatic and fish exposure.
Key words: Fish handler, hand infection, immunocompetent, Mycobacterium abscessus
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The authors are indebted to Emeritus Professor Robert W. H. Pho of the Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, National University Hospital, Singapore, for his expert review of this article.
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
PII: S0363-5023(10)00449-1
doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2010.04.015
© 2010 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
