Fishing for a Diagnosis, the Impact of Delayed Diagnosis on the Course of Mycobacterium marinum Infection: 21 Years of Experience at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

<i>M. marinum</i> infection is an important cause of skin and soft tissue infection. Poor water exposure documentation, unusual clinical presentation, and empiric antibiotic treatment before definitive <i>M. marinum</i> diagnosis often contribute to a delayed diagnosis. Complicated <i>M. marinum</i> cases had longer duration of symptoms and more surgical debridements. No difference in the number of drugs used or clinical outcome was observed.