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Manifestations of Mycobacterium marinum in the Immunocompromised Host

  • Cutaneous Mycobacterial Diseases of the Skin and Soft Tissues (C Franco-Paredes, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Tropical Medicine Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Atypical Mycobacterium infections are occasionally encountered in clinical practice. As a result of immune function modulation in some particular populations (i.e., transplant, immunotherapies for chronic rheumatological diseases, chronic steroid therapy), there has been an increase in the number of diagnosed cases with atypical Mycobacterium, in particular M. marinum, associated with a history of exposure to natural or artificial water systems. The aim of this study is to review recent clinical presentations, risk factors, and management of M. marinum infections in immunocompromised individuals.

Recent Findings

M. marinum exposure may potentially cause skin and soft tissue infections leading to important morbidity with sometimes life-threatening complications among immunocompromised hosts. The diagnosis of this infection is frequently delayed by months due to the often-atypical clinical presentations. A common immunosuppression associated with infection is TNF inhibition secondary to novel TNF inhibitors. These patients often present with infection within the nose. This atypical clinical presentation, in contrast to the classic “fish tank granuloma” hand lesion, may be related to immunosuppressive factors.

Summary

Increasing awareness of this particular nontuberculous mycobacterial infection among physicians caring for patients with potential exposure to aquatic environments may reduce the time of diagnosis to treatment and avoid further complications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Annabelle Jones

  2. Global Health Institute, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Annabelle Jones & Luis A. Marcos

  3. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Luis A. Marcos

  4. Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Luis A. Marcos

  5. Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, HSC 17 Rm 060, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA

    Luis A. Marcos

Authors
  1. Annabelle Jones
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  2. Luis A. Marcos
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Correspondence to Luis A. Marcos.

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Conflict of Interest

Annabelle Jones and Luis A. Marcos declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cutaneous Mycobacterial Diseases of the Skin and Soft Tissues

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Jones, A., Marcos, L.A. Manifestations of Mycobacterium marinum in the Immunocompromised Host. Curr Trop Med Rep 5, 233–237 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40475-018-0163-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40475-018-0163-5

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