RESUMEN
Infection with Mycobacterium marinum is often difficult to diagnose. Infection with M. marinum in the upper extremity may involve the tendon sheaths, producing clinical manifestations such as tenosynovitis and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. We report 3 cases of M. marinum infection of the hand associated with carpal tunnel syndrome during an outbreak in New York City's Chinatown. A combination of carpal tunnel release, flexor tenosynovectomy, and appropriate antibiotics yielded complete resolution of symptoms in all cases.
Asunto(s)
Síndrome del Túnel Carpiano/etiología , Infecciones por Mycobacterium no Tuberculosas/complicaciones , Mycobacterium marinum , Tenosinovitis/etiología , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Síndrome del Túnel Carpiano/diagnóstico , Síndrome del Túnel Carpiano/terapia , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Infecciones por Mycobacterium no Tuberculosas/diagnóstico , Infecciones por Mycobacterium no Tuberculosas/terapia , Tenosinovitis/diagnóstico , Tenosinovitis/terapiaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: From December 2013 through May 2014, physicians, dermatopathologists, and public health authorities collaborated to characterize an outbreak of Mycobacterium marinum and other nontuberculous mycobacterial skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) associated with handling fish in New York City's Chinatown. Clinicopathologic and laboratory investigations were performed on a series of patients. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for 29 patients. Culture results were available for 27 patients and 24 biopsy specimens were evaluated by histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining for acid-fast bacilli (AFB), and mycobacterial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. RESULTS: All patients received antibiotics. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic regimen was clarithromycin and ethambutol. Of the 29 patients in this case series, 16 (55%) received surgical treatment involving incision and drainage, mass excision, and synovectomy. Of these, 7 (44%) had deep tissue involvement. All patients showed improvement. For those with culture results, 11 of 27 (41%) were positive for M. marinum; the remainder showed no growth. Poorly formed granulomas (96%), neutrophils (75%), and necrosis (79%) were found in 24 biopsies. Of 15 cases that were culture-negative and analyzed by other methods, 9 were PCR positive for M. marinum group species, 8 were IHC positive, and 3 were positive by AFB stains. CONCLUSIONS: A multidisciplinary approach was used to identify cases in an outbreak of M. marinum infections. The use of histopathology, culture, and IHC plus PCR from full thickness skin biopsy can lead to improved diagnosis of M. marinum SSTIs compared to relying solely on mycobacterial culture, the current gold standard.