CUTANEOUS INFECTION DUE TO MYCOBACTERIUM-ABSCESSUS

Erythematous nodular and ulcerating skin lesions occurred in a 56-year -old woman treated with chemotherapy and glucocorticosteroids for meta static breast cancer. Subsequent culture yielded Mycobacterium abscess us, a facultative pathogen which exists as a saprophyte in the environ ment 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 r esults, treatment with clarithromycin and clofazimine was installed an d resolution of the lesions initiated. This report emphasizes once aga in that one should investigate any new or unusual skin lesions in immu nocompromised patients by histology and culture of biopsies, including cultures for acid-fast organisms.