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Introduction: Dermatologic manifestations of diseases in solid organ transplant recipients are common due to long-term immunosuppression., Case Presentation: We present the case of a 63-year-old man with a kidney transplant who exhibited subcutaneous nodules on lower extremities, cytopenia, and asymptomatic pulmonary infiltrate. Through a skin biopsy and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing, Mycobacterium haemophilum was identified. His clinical course was complicated by empyema, septic arthritis, and recurrence of his skin manifestations, despite ongoing antimicrobial treatment., Discussion: This case emphasizes the challenges and potential complications associated with M haemophilum infections in solid organ transplant recipients receiving long-term immunosuppressive therapy. It highlights the importance of employing advanced diagnostic techniques when evaluating dermatologic manifestations in these patients. The patient's complex clinical course also underscores the difficulties involved in effectively addressing and managing complications that may arise even after initiating therapy., (Copyright© Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and The Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of interests I declare no competing interests.

Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lymphadenitis is an under-recognized entity, and data of the true burden in children are limited. Without a high index of suspicion, diagnosis may be delayed and microbiological detection is challenging. Here, we report a cluster of NTM lymphadenitis experienced in Korean children., Methods: Subjects under 19 years of age diagnosed with NTM lymphadenitis during November 2016-April 2017 and April 2018 were included. Electronic medical records were reviewed for clinical, laboratory and pathological findings. Information regarding underlying health conditions and environmental exposure factors was obtained through interview and questionnaires., Results: A total of ten subjects were diagnosed during 18 months. All subjects were 8-15 years of age, previously healthy, male and had unilateral, nontender, cervicofacial lymphadenitis for more than 3 weeks with no significant systemic symptoms and no response to empirical antibiotics. Lymph nodes involved were submandibular (n = 8), preauricular (n = 6) and submental (n = 1). Five patients had two infected nodes and violaceous discoloration was seen in seven subjects. Biopsy specimens revealed chronic granulomatous inflammation and acid-fast bacteria culture identified Mycobacterium haemophilum in two cases and NTM polymerase chain reaction was positive in two cases. Survey revealed various common exposure sources., Conclusion: NTM lymphadenitis is rare but increasing in detection and it may occur in children and adolescents. Diagnosis requires high index of suspicion and communication between clinicians and the laboratory is essential for identification of NTM., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (© 2019 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.)

Mycobacterium haemophilum is a nontuberculous organism that commonly manifests as cutaneous lesions and subcutaneous nodules in immunosuppressed adults. Because M haemophilum infection is rare, the epidemiology, reservoir, and mode of transmission remain largely unknown. Infection presents a challenge to the dermatology community because it is infrequently suspected and commonly misidentified, resulting in delayed diagnosis. We discuss 3 cases of cutaneous M haemophilum infection to better understand clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management.

Mycobacterium haemophilum is a nontuberculous mycobacterium that can infect immunocompromised patients. Because of special conditions required for its culture, this bacterium is rarely reported and there are scarce data for long-term outcomes. We conducted a retrospective study at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, during January 2012-September 2017. We studied 21 patients for which HIV infection was the most common concurrent condition. The most common organ involvement was skin and soft tissue (60%). Combination therapy with macrolides and fluoroquinolones resulted in a 60% cure rate for cutaneous infection; adding rifampin as a third drug for more severe cases resulted in modest (66%) cure rate. Efficacy of medical therapy in cutaneous, musculoskeletal, and ocular diseases was 80%, 50%, and 50%, respectively. All patients with central nervous system involvement showed treatment failures. Infections with M. haemophilum in HIV-infected patients were more likely to have central nervous system involvement and tended to have disseminated infections and less favorable outcomes.

Mycobacterium haemophilum is a slow-growing, non-tuberculous mycobacteria that causes cutaneous infection. We describe a case of cutaneous infection in a 68-year-old Japanese man with polymyositis. This was caused by M. haemophilum harboring one base insertion in gene sequence. At first, the causal microorganism was misidentified as M. intracellulare by COBAS ® TaqMan ® MAI test. However, poor growth on Ogawa media and growth enhancement on 7H11C agar around a hemin-containing disk prompted us to reinvestigate the causal microorganisms, which were revealed to be M. haemophilum. Amplified polymerase chain reaction products were sequenced, and the 16S rRNA gene, rpoB, hsp65 and internal transcribed spacer region sequences showed a 100%, 100%, 99.66% and 99.7% match, respectively, with the corresponding regions of M. haemophilum, but it harbored a novel gene sequence in hsp65. The sequences determined by gene analysis of the M. haemophilum strain were deposited into the International Nucleotide Sequence Database. Although numerous cases of M. haemophilum infection have been reported in other countries, only six cases have been reported in Japan to date. It could be possible that this novel mutation lead to misdiagnosis. As M. haemophilum prefers a lower growth temperature (30-32°C) and it requires iron in the culture medium, M. haemophilum could be misidentified or overlooked. Accordingly, a M. haemophilum infection should be considered in cases of cutaneous infection of the body sites, of which surface temperature is low., (© 2017 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Background: The differential diagnosis in a child with a swelling in the neck is broad. Chronic lymphadenopathy in children quite often leads to extensive blood tests. Cervicofacial non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lymphadenitis is, however, not revealed by blood tests. It is a rare condition, which is mostly seen in young children., Case Description: A 4-year-old girl had a 9-week history of a swelling in her neck; the skin covering the swelling had been red and flaking for the past week. Extensive blood tests did not provide a firm diagnosis and ultrasound revealed 3 heterogeneous abscessing lymph glands with fistulas to the subcutaneous layer, leading to a probable diagnosis of cervicofacial NTM lymphadenitis. The infected lymph node package was excised, and microbiological culture was positive for Mycobacterium haemophilum., Conclusion: NTM infections in young children are persistent infections that should be treated surgically at an early stage for the best cosmetic and functional result.

Mycobacteriosis is infrequently reported in free-ranging sea turtles. Nontuberculous Mycobacterium haemophilum was identified as the causative agent of disseminated mycobacteriosis in a juvenile leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) that was found stranded on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Disseminated granulomatous inflammation was identified histologically, most notably affecting the nervous system. Identification of mycobacterial infection was based on cytologic, molecular, histologic, and microbiologic methods. Among stranded sea turtles received for diagnostic evaluation from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States between 2004 and 2015, the diagnosis of mycobacteriosis was overrepresented in stranded oceanic-phase juveniles compared with larger size classes, which suggests potential differences in susceptibility or exposure among different life phases in this region. We describe M. haemophilum in a sea turtle, which contributes to the knowledge of diseases of small juvenile sea turtles, an especially cryptic life phase of the leatherback turtle., (© 2016 The Author(s).)

Opportunistic infections are a major concern in renal and transplant medicine. We present the case of a renal transplant recipient with a generalised Mycobacterium haemophilum infection after an increase in immunosuppressive therapy and treatment with a tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitor. Infection involved skin and soft tissue, joints and bones, as well as the renal transplant with an interstitial nephritis. Rapid diagnosis using PCR and DNA sequencing allowed early appropriate treatment. Triple antibiotic therapy and reduction in immunosuppression resulted in a slow but sustained recovery. Immunosuppression causes severe opportunistic infections. TNF-α inhibitors are very effective and well tolerated but have an increased susceptibility to infections with mycobacteria. Mycobacterial infections represent a significant clinical risk to transplant recipients because of their aggressive clinical course and the need for complex toxic antibiotic treatments. In these patients, M. haemophilum is a cause of skin infections., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared., (2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Considering the numbers of zebrafish held in the laboratories, it is relevant to develop some tools to monitor the health of the animals, as well as their biotope. Environmental samples can be used to detect aquatic pathogens. Comprehensive health monitoring would thus seek pathogens in three dimensions of the animals and microbes' habitat: the fish, the sludge, and the water. This three-dimensional approach is called the 3D screen and it introduces some complementary tools to routine sentinel screening. For example, sludge and sump swabs analyses allow an efficient detection of pathogens at a low cost and with a fast turnover. These assays are particularly useful in cases of Pseudocapillaria tomentosa infestation or Mycobacterium haemophilum outbreak. Indeed, such a broader choice of diagnostic tests gives flexibility for the veterinarian to investigate Mycobacterium spp. presence in the water systems and fish colonies. Some other robust additional analysis, like the mortality rate monitoring, quickens the decision-making process. The 3D screen describes how this new toolbox can be used efficiently to monitor laboratory fish health.

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria rarely cause facial skin lesions in immunocompetent children., Aim: I describe the clinical features and treatment of nontuberculous mycobacteria facial lesions., Materials and Methods: The diagnosis of a facial nontuberculous mycobacteria infection was established using polymerase chain reaction., Results: Of 286 children with confirmed nontuberculous mycobacteria infection, 14 (4.9%; median age 50 mos, range 9-156 mos; 5 [36%] male, 9 [64%] female) had nontuberculous mycobacteria facial skin lesions. Six (43%) had lesions on the cheek and five (36%) in the medial eye corner. Polymerase chain reaction results confirmed the presence of Mycobacterium haemophilum in eight patients (57%) and Mycobacterium avium in six patients (43%). The facial lesions were treated using a combination of clarithromycin and rifabutin for 12 weeks, with a median healing time of 4 months., Conclusion: Nontuberculous mycobacteria facial lesions are rare in immunocompetent children. The diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. Nonsurgical treatment is preferable, because surgical excision of the cutaneous lesions might lead to undesirable visible facial scars., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

We report a case of disseminated Mycobacterium haemophilum osteomyelitis in a patient with advanced HIV infection, who later developed recurrent immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome after commencement of antiretroviral therapy. We review previous reports of M. haemophilum bone and joint infection associated with HIV infection and describe the management of M. haemophilum-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, including the role of surgery as an adjunctive treatment modality and the potential drug interactions between antiretroviral and antimycobacterial agents., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Mycobacterium haemophilum is a slow-growing non-tuberculous mycobacterium that is rarely known to cause human skin infection, particularly in immunocompromised patients. We recently experienced a 69-year-old Japanese woman with this infection who had been under immunosuppressive treatment for recalcitrant rheumatoid arthritis. The patient showed disseminated erythematous plaques and subcutaneous nodules on the face and extremities, and interestingly, the face manifested with a striking "facies leontina" appearance. Biopsy revealed abscess and granulomatous dermatitis with the involvement of peripheral nerve bundles and the presence of innumerable acid-fast bacilli, thus necessitating differentiation from lepromatous leprosy. M. haemophilum was identified by molecular characterization as well as by successful culture with iron supplements. Although drug susceptibility testing indicated responsiveness to multiple antibiotics administrated simultaneously for the treatment, it took over 6 months to achieve significant improvement, and we also employed concurrent oral potassium iodide administration and repeated surgical excision. This case highlights the importance of continuous combination therapy for successful outcome in this rare infection. Furthermore, application of potassium iodide for mycobacterial infection warrants further evaluation by accumulating more cases., (© 2015 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

We report the first case of an immunocompromised adult patient presenting with cervicofacial lymphadenitis due to Mycobacterium haemophilum, confirmed using hsp65 gene sequencing and line-probe assays. In resource-limited settings, especially in developing countries, appropriate culture methods and rapid molecular diagnostic tools such as hsp65 gene sequencing for identification of this organism may not be readily available. This may cause M. haemophilum infections to go unrecognised or lead to delays in diagnosis. Lack of heightened awareness about the potential for this mycobacterial species to cause infections may also contribute to possible underestimation of M. haemophilum cases in the developing world.

Mycobacterium haemophilum is an environmental organism that rarely causes infections in humans. We report a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who had central nervous system infection due to M. haemophilum. The diagnosis required brain tissue procurement and molecular identification method while the treatment outcome was unfavourable., (© The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.)

A sub-adult male Assam trinket snake (Elaphe frenata) that was confiscated from an exotic animal dealer was found dead in its enclosure after a 17-mo quarantine. The snake had grown well during that period and had no physical examination or bloodwork abnormalities during the quarantine. On gross necropsy, masses were found in the epaxial musculature and stomach, the lung was diffusely thickened, the ventricular wall was mottled, and there was intracoelomic and pericardial effusion. Histopathology revealed diffusely disseminated granulomatous infiltrates throughout the lung interstitium and multifocal granulomatous infiltrates in the transmural gastric mass, within the myocardium and pericardial adipose tissue, in the liver and kidney parenchyma, in the cervical region surrounding the trachea and thyroid, and replacing the myofibers of the craniolateral epaxial muscles. Fite-Farracho acid-fast staining revealed numerous intracytoplasmic acid-fast bacilli within macrophages, and polymerase chain reaction testing on frozen tissues followed by nucleic acid sequencing of polymerase chain reaction amplicons identified Mycobacterium haemophilum.

We report a case of chiasmitis caused by a rare nontuberculous mycobacterium in an immunocompromised patient. A 44-year-old man with a history of AIDS presented with recurrent vision loss and headache. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated an enhancing mass involving the optic chiasm. Histopathologic and microbiological evaluation revealed infection with Mycobacterium haemophilum. While combination antimicrobial and steroid therapy contributed to improvement in his vision, the patient's symptoms recurred. Follow-up MRI showed extension of infection to the hypothalamus and leptomeninges, indicative of basilar meningitis. MRI is a valuable tool for early diagnosis of chiasmitis as well as for monitoring infection progression and treatment response., (Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

We present the case of a native Texan who was diagnosed with tuberculoid leprosy and later developed a cutaneous infection with M. haemophilum following iatrogenic immunosuppression. To our knowledge, there are no such reports of M. haemophilum and M. leprae infection occurring simultaneously in the same host., (© 2014.)

Purpose: To compare surgical excision with surgical curettage in the treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NMT) cervicofacial lymphadenitis in children., Patients and Methods: Fifty children, 22 boys and 28 girls, with a PCR- or cultured-confirmed diagnosis of cervicofacial NTM infection were included in the study. Twenty-five children were randomized to surgical excision of the involved lymph nodes, and 25 children to surgical curettage., Results: The median age of the children was 36 months (range, 14-120 months). All children had a red, fluctuating lymphadenitis, and there were no marked differences between the treatment groups with respect to mean duration of lymph node swelling before presentation, location, and the size of the lymph node swelling. Most (84%) of the involved nodes were located in the submandibular region and 6% were located in the preauricular region. Multiple locations (both preauricular and submandibular) were observed in the remaining 10%. Mycobacterium avium (74%) and Mycobacterium haemophilum (22%) were the predominant NTM species. Mean wound healing time for the excision group was 3.6 ± 1.2 weeks versus 11.4 ± 5.1 weeks for the curettage group (P ≤ .05). Postoperative transient marginal mandibular nerve weakness of the facial nerve was seen in 4 patients (16%) of the excision group. In all these patients the function of the nerve returned to normal within 12 weeks. No facial nerve problems were observed in the curettage group. Postoperative infections were not observed., Conclusions: Surgical excision leads to a quick resolution of NTM cervicofacial lymphadenitis. Curettage leads to delayed healing but might be considered as an alternative if excision of the necrotized lymph nodes is technically difficult in cases of adherence of the facial nerve branche., (Copyright © 2012 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We present here the first report of disseminated skin Mycobacterium infections in two liver transplant recipients, in which hsp65 gene sequencing was used for rapid species identification. Both patients had hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus and presented with progressive generalized, nodular skin lesions. In one patient, a 50-year-old woman who had frequent contact with marine fish, an acid-fast bacillus was isolated from skin biopsy tissue after 2 months of culture. While awaiting phenotypic identification results, hsp65 gene sequencing showed that it was most closely related to that of Mycobacterium marinum with 100% nucleotide identity. The patient was treated with oral rifampin, ethambutol, and moxifloxacin. In the other patient, a 59-year-old woman, direct PCR for Mycobacterium using hsp65 gene from skin biopsy tissue was positive, with the sequence most closely related to that of M. haemophilum with 100% nucleotide identity. Based on PCR results, the patient was treated with clarithromycin, ethambutol, moxifloxacin, and amikacin. A strain of M. haemophilum was only isolated after 3 months. Skin lesions of both patients resolved after 1 year of antimycobacterial therapy. Nontuberculous Mycobacterium infections should be considered in liver transplant recipients presenting with chronic, nodular skin lesions. This report highlights the crucial role of hsp65 gene PCR and sequencing on both cultured isolates and direct clinical specimens for rapid diagnosis of slow-growing Mycobacterium infection.

Mycobacterium haemophilum is a slowly growing acid-fast bacillus (AFB) belonging to the group of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) frequently found in environmental habitats, which can colonize and occasionally infect humans and animals. Several findings suggest that water reservoirs are a likely source of M. haemophilum infections. M. haemophilum causes mainly ulcerating skin infections and arthritis in persons who are severely immunocompromised. Disseminated and pulmonary infections occasionally occur. The second at-risk group is otherwise healthy children, who typically develop cervical and perihilar lymphadenitis. A full diagnostic regimen for the optimal detection of M. haemophilum includes acid-fast staining, culturing at two temperatures with iron-supplemented media, and molecular detection. The most preferable molecular assay is a real-time PCR targeting an M. haemophilum-specific internal transcribed spacer (ITS), but another approach is the application of a generic PCR for a mycobacterium-specific fragment with subsequent sequencing to identify M. haemophilum. No standard treatment guidelines are available, but published literature agrees that immunocompromised patients should be treated with multiple antibiotics, tailored to the disease presentation and underlying degree of immune suppression. The outcome of M. haemophilum cervicofacial lymphadenitis in immunocompetent patients favors surgical intervention rather than antibiotic treatment.

We report the case of a 22-year-old man who presented with a Mycobacterium haemophilum and Histoplasma capsulatum coinfection occurring 21 years after a living-donor-related renal transplant.

We report a Mycobacterium haemophilum outbreak after permanent make-up of the eyebrows performed by the same freelance artist. Twelve patients presented an eyebrow lesion and cervical lymphadenitis. All were treated with antibiotics. Surgery was required in 10 cases. M. haemophilum DNA was identified in the make-up ink.

Mycobacterium haemophilum is a slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacterium that can cause disease in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. The most common clinical presentations of infection are the appearance of suppurative and ulcerated skin nodules. For the diagnosis, samples collected from suspected cases must be processed under the appropriate conditions, because M. haemophilum requires lower incubation temperatures and iron supplementation in order to grow in culture. In this case report, we describe the occurrence of skin lesions in a kidney transplant recipient, caused by M. haemophilum, associated with acupuncture treatment. The diagnosis was established by direct smear and culture of material aspirated from cutaneous lesions. Species identification was achieved by characterization of the growth requirements and by partial sequencing of the hsp65 gene. The patient was successfully treated with clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin for 12 months. Considering that the number of patients receiving acupuncture treatment is widely increasing, the implications of this potential complication should be recognized, particularly in immunosuppressed patients., (© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Background: The prevalence of infections by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has steadily increased over the past decades, especially in immunocompromised patients., Case Presentation: We present a patient with IgA-deficiency and mixed cutaneous infection by two slowly growing mycobacteria, Mycobacterium (M.) haemophilum and M. kansasii., Conclusions: Cutaneous M. haemophilum infections most often result from HIV or transplantation-associated immunosuppression. Rarely, M. haemophilum may also infect healthy patients or iatrogenically immunosuppressed patients without transplantation. M. kansasii is one of the most frequent NTM and large awareness exists about its involvement in human diseases. Mycobacterial diagnosis of cutaneous infections should be considered in long-lasting skin lesions.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in immunocompetent children usually presents as chronic lymphadenitis involving the neck and face. Mycobacterium avium complex is the most common pathogen, although recent series found Mycobacterium haemophilum, to be a major cause of chronic lymphadenitis in otherwise healthy children. The authors describe a 9-month-old baby who presented with a 4-month history of preauricular lymphadenitis. Mycobacterial culture yielded Mycobacterium haemophilum. A no-intervention approach was chosen. At the 6-month follow-up, the swelling had ameliorated and the skin showed a small scar with near-normal overlying skin color. A literature review of the clinical manifestations and diagnosis of Mycobacterium haemophilum lymphadenitis and of the different management options for nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis in otherwise healthy children is presented.

A 52-year-old male with a history of renal transplantation and chronic iatrogenic immunosuppression presented with a several-week history of hyperpigmented cutaneous nodules on bilateral upper and lower extremities. Biopsy showed inflammatory granulomatous dermatitis caused by acid-fast bacilli (AFB). However, tissue cultures for mycobacterium were repeatedly negative. The patient was diagnosed with Mycobacterium haemophilum based on PCR results and was placed on empiric antibiotic therapy.

We describe a case and summarize six additional cases of cervical lymphadenitis in otherwise healthy adults caused by Mycobacterium haemophilum. The organism causes cervicofacial lymphadenitis in healthy children and severe disease in immunocompromised patients but has not been previously reported to cause cervical lymphadenitis in nonimmunocompromised, healthy adults.

The characteristics of nontuberculous mycobacteria cheek lesions in 7 children were reviewed. The lesions usually presented as nontender erythematous nodules and were associated with a positive purified protein derivate tuberculin skin test. Mycobacterium haemophilum was isolated in 4 cases (57%) and Mycobacterium avium complex in 3 (43%). Cytology and imaging were noncontributory. Resolution was prolonged.

The role of the species Mycobacterium haemophilum as a pathogenic non-tuberculous microorganism is becoming better defined with the use of specific detection methods. However, epidemiological investigations of this species are still scarce. We analysed the genetic diversity of M. haemophilum by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) typing and compared isolates from different parts of the world. In total, 128 isolates, including 41 from the USA, 51 from Australia, 28 from Europe and eight from Israel were compared using AFLP methodology. Two restriction enzymes (MseI and EcoRI) and one selective primer were applied and provided a high discriminatory power. Clusters of isolates with identical AFLP patterns, which could indicate a possible common source, were observed from the Netherlands, New York and Australia. No clear clustering on the basis of continental origin was observed; however, types were restricted to geographical areas and not found on other continents. A high genetic stability within the species was demonstrated by the long-term existence of a single type.

Introduction: Mycobacterium haemophilum belongs to the group of atypical mycobacteria and is rarely reported as a cause of upper extremity and hand infections. It is of low virulence. The bacterium seems to be ubiquitous. Sources and mechanism of infection are poorly defined., Case Report: A 48-year-old female patient was admitted with chronic flexor tendon synovitis of the left palm and distal forearm site. Three debridements were carried out and wound swabs were taken. No proof of bacterial colonisation was found. Histologically a granulomatous infection with Langerhans cells was revealed. Effectively calculated monotherapy with ciprofloxacin was begun. Six weeks postoperatively Mycobacterium haemophilum was cultivated in a colaboration with the National Reference Centre for Mycobacteria in Borstel. Medication was changed to triple therapy with clarithromycin, ethambutol and rifabutin. The patient could carry out her daytime job three months postoperatively. One year after first admission functional impairment needed to be treated by scar excision and radical flexor tendon tendolysis. The palmar defect was resurfaced by using a transmetacarpal DMCA 2 flap at the same time. An almost full range of motion was achieved with intensive hand and physiotherapy after a total treatment period of 15 months., Discussion: Patients with upper extremity infections caused by atypical Mycobacteria need qualified hand-surgical care. The decision about need and kind of medicamentous treatment is based on germ differentiation and should be made in cooperation with the National Reference Centre for Mycobacteria in Borstel. To shorten the diagnostic gap between first admission and detection of Mycobacteria in hand infections with a non-typical course of disease we suggest a standardised approach.

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria can cause a chronic localized cervicofacial lymphadenitis in immunocompetent children. The recommended treatment is total excision of the affected lymph node. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with an observational approach., Methods: Children with chronic nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) cervical lymphadenitis, whose parents opted for conservative treatment, were followed at our center from 1990 to 2004. The diagnosis of NTM was based on mycobacterial culture of lymph node specimens obtained by fine needle aspiration. The clinical laboratory and follow-up data were documented., Results: Ninety-two children with lymph node positive cultures of nontuberculous mycobacterium were included in the study. Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium hemophilum were isolated in 90% of the cultures. In most cases, the affected lymph nodes underwent violaceous changes with discharge of purulent material for 3-8 weeks. Total resolution was achieved within 6 months in 71% of patients and within 9-12 months in the remainder. At the 2-year follow-up, a skin-colored, flat scar in the region of the drainage was noted. There were no complications., Conclusions: We suggest that the observational approach can be effective for managing NTM lymphadenitis in immunocompetent children.

The database of a major microbiology laboratory in Israel was searched to determine the prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis in immunocompetent children. We observed a 4-fold increase in nontuberculous mycobacteria isolates during 1985-2006, which was attributable mainly to increased detection of Mycobacterium haemophilum starting in 1996.

Background: Mycobacterium haemophilum was first recovered from subcutaneous lesions of a patient with Hodgkin's disease. Because of its special growth requirements (it grows at 30-32 degrees C and requires iron-supplemented medium), the organism cannot be isolated using routine culture techniques for other mycobacteria. Only a few developed countries have reported infection with this mycobacterium. We report the first two cases diagnosed in Venezuela., Methods: The diagnosis of the first case was established using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction endonuclease analysis of the gene encoding the 65-kDa heat shock protein (hsp65) for the direct identification of M. haemophilum in a clinical specimen in which bacilli were observed on acid-fast smear, but growth was not detected by standard culture procedures., Results: After recognizing this bacterium as a possible cause of infection in our setting, clinical samples of cutaneous lesions were routinely cultured on blood agar at 30 degrees C for at least 6 weeks, which resulted in the diagnosis of the second case., Conclusions: Dermatologists should consider this bacterium in immunocompromised patients with cutaneous ulcerating lesions. Material from the lesions can be screened for mycobacteria using an acid-fast stain and, if acid-fast bacilli are seen, PCR analysis of mycobacterial hsp65 can be an effective tool for early diagnosis. Appropriate culture methods are required for bacteriologic confirmation of infection with M. haemophilum.

Mycobacterium haemophilum is an established cause of cutaneous lesions in immunocompromised hosts. We report the first known case of epididymal abscess, which highlights the need to work up all specimens that are acid-fast bacillus-positive for M. haemophilum from immunocompromised hosts, regardless of body site.

Cutaneous Mycobacterium haemophilum infections are most often the result of HIV or transplantation-associated immunosuppression. Rarely, M. haemophilum may infect healthy patients or iatrogenically immunosuppressed patients without transplantation. We herein report two cases of cutaneous M. haemophilum infection in HIV-negative patients without transplantation undergoing iatrogenic immunosuppression. Our cases and a literature review highlight the various clinical contexts in which M. haemophilum may arise in this patient population. Accordingly, we emphasize that a high index of suspicion is needed for diagnosis, which ultimately relies on skin biopsy, histopathologic examination, and culture.