A Case of Mycobacterium marinum Infection Diagnosed by PCR Amplification and Direct Sequencing / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium marinum is an atypical mycobacterium (ATM) and is an uncommon cause of skin and soft tissue infections associated with contact with contaminated water. Diagnosis is often delayed when only a conventional identification method is used. PCR amplification and direct sequencing is recently available method for rapid identification of ATM. We report a case of M. marinum infection identified by PCR and sequencing. A 56-year-old female was referred for multiple erythematous nodules on both forearms which appeared two months ago. Skin biopsy showed suppurative granulomatous inflammation, and AFB culture showed nontuberculous Mycobacteria. PCR and sequencing were performed, and the obtained sequences were compared to the database using BLAST. The sequences of 16S rRNA and rpoB could not differentiate between M. marinum and M. ulcerans, showing 100% homology to both. Identification was possible using the sequences of the tuf and hsp65 genes, showing both 100% homology to M. marinum, while 99.8%, 99.7% to M. ulcerans. The patient was treated with clarithromycin, rifampicin, and ethambutol for 6 months.