INFECTION WITH MYCOBACTERIUM-AVIUM-INTRACELLULARE WITH ABSCESS, ULCERATION AND FISTULA FORMATION

Infections caused by Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex are ge nerally manifested as pulmonary disease, osteomyelitis or lymphadeniti s, and cutaneous infection is rare. We describe a case of M. intracell ulare infection of the skin in a 79-year-old man without apparent immu nologically disabling disease or therapy, He had cutaneous infection o f the right hand over 10 years, developing a fistula and, finally, an ulcer and abscess, 2 months before his death from heart failure, Mycob acterium intracellulare was identified by both microbiological charact eristics and DNA-DNA hybridization.