RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Mycobacterium chelonae: nonhealing leg ulcers treated successfully with an oral antibiotic.
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 457
OP 461
VO 14
IS 6
A1 S Terry
A1 N H Timothy
A1 J J Zurlo
A1 E K Manders
YR 2001
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/14/6/457.abstract
AB BACKGROUND Mycobacterium chelonae is an important human pathogen and should be considered when a physician is faced with nonhealing cutaneous wounds, including ulcers of the lower leg.METHODS The medical literature was searched from 1965 to the present using the key words "Mycobacterium chelonae" and "leg ulcers." A case of Mycobacterium chelonae infection is reported.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Clarithromycin as single-agent oral therapy has been effective in treating these infections once the proper diagnosis is established. Diagnosis of M. chelonae infection requires being alert to this infectious agent and obtaining cultures for mycobacteria. Aggressive surgical debridement with direct excision of the wound might now be unnecessary because of the effectiveness of oral clarithromycin administered as a single oral agent.