For this reason, Mycobacterium marinum infection can often be misdiagnosed as sporotrichosis. Patients sometimes undergo long courses of antifungal treatments before further spreading of the mycobacterium elicits a repeat biopsy and culture. Careful attention to historical information regarding aquatic exposure can provide a vital clue to the diagnosis. In addition, when sending tissues for culture, it is important that cultures also be performed at 32 C to detect the organism. Involved joints may be misdiagnosed as inflammatory arthritis, and the joint inappropriately injected with a corticosteroid.
Corticosteroid injection can result in marked progression of the disease.
In vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium marinum to dihydromycoplanecin A and ten other antimicrobial agents. Use of tetracyclines vs rifampin. Mycobacterium marinum skin infections. Report of 31 cases and review of the literature. In-vitro activities of quinolones against mycobacteria.