Skin and soft tissue infection by Mycobacterium intracellulare in an immunocompetent patient

Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections still represent a large group of insidious diseases hard to deal with. Traditionally, immunocompromised patients suffer from NTM infections, especially with respiratory involvement or disseminated diseases due to MAC (<i>Mycobacterium avium</i> complex). Here we report a rare case of <i>Mycobacterium intracellulare</i> infection involving skin and soft tissue, manifested as a chronic cutaneous ulcer in an immunocompetent patient with several comorbidities, including seizures. Accurate diagnosis of species was obtained with <i>in vitro</i> culture and RT-PCR (Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction) following a high clinical suspicion. Despite the high complexity of NTM infections, it is possible to achieve diagnostic goals through the appropriate employment of recent DNA-molecular technologies and an adequate management.