Resistant Cutaneous Infection Caused by Mycobacterium chelonei

Abstract

Induration of the lower parts of the legs with abscess and ulcer formation occurred in a 60-year-old woman. Mycobacterium chelonei, a ubiquitous, saprophytic pathogen that uncommonly causes human disease, was cultured from biopsy material. Although spontaneous healing usually occurs in a few months with such infections, our patient's disease persisted for more than two years until control was achieved with minocycline hydrochloride.