Non-tuberculous mycobacterial tenosynovitis: A review

The clinical characteristics, outcome and treatment of non-tuberculous myco bacterial tenosynovitis are reviewed. From lesions localized in the hand, 1 0 different species of non-tuberculous mycobacteria have been reported. The most common are Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium kansasii, Other le ss frequent organisms are Mycobacterium avium complex, Mycobacterium szulga i, Mycobacterium terrae, Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium chelonae, M ycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium malmoense and Mycobacterium xenopi, T he infections appear to be the result of previous trauma, surgical procedur e, corticosteroid injection or non-apparent inoculation (water contaminatio n), Immunosuppression is sometimes associated with the infections and can b e considered as a risk factor. Surgical debridement and appropriate mycobac terial cultures are critical to enable diagnosis and appropriate management . Specimens should be inoculated on a range of media and incubated at a ran ge of temperatures in order to isolate mycobacteria with different growth c haracteristics (with prolonged incubation). The optimal treatment of these infections is discussed.