Mycobacterium marinum hand infection: case reports and review of literature

Three patients with Mycobacterium marinum infection are described. Key elem ents in the diagnosis of this infection are a high index of suspicion, taki ng a history with an emphasis on exposure to tropical fish or other potenti al sources of M. marinum infection, and tissue biopsy for culture and histo logy. The microbiologist should be informed about the suspicion of M. marin um infection so that appropriate cultures can be performed. As M. marinum d oes not grow under routine culture conditions, the diagnosis is easily miss ed resulting in delayed treatment. The treatment is essentially antimicrobi al therapy for the superficial lesions supplemented by an appropriate surgi cal debridement especially when deep structures are involved. (C) 2000 Harc ourt Publishers Ltd.