Cutaneous Mycobacterium fortuitum infection mimicking lupus vulgaris

Abstract

We report a woman with a lupus vulgaris-like skin eruption caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum. The presence of mycobacteria was confirmed with tissue culture and also the detection of mycobacterial heat shock protein 65 (hsp65) DNA in the biopsy specimen. The eruption resolved after treatment with amikacin and clarithromycin. Lupus vulgaris-like lesions might be included in the clinical spectrum of infections caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria.