Disseminated disease caused by Mycobacterium marseillense: A case report and literature review

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) Vol. 102; no. 43; p. e35781
• Main Authors: Cheng, Ji, Qu, Jun-Yan, Hamblin, Michael R., Hao, Dan, Wen, Xiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 27.10.2023
• Subjects: Aged; Clarithromycin - therapeutic use; Clinical Case Report; Humans; Male; Mycobacterium; Mycobacterium avium Complex; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - diagnosis; case report; disseminated disease; clinical manifestation; complex
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000035781

Rationale: Among numerous types of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, Mycobacterium avium complex is a related group of species, which can cause various diseases in humans. Mycobacterium marseillense is a member of the Mycobacterium avium complex, which accounts for only a small proportion of species, but causes rare diseases affecting the lungs, lymph nodes, skin, and tendon sheath. So far, very few cases have been reported. Patient concerns: A 76-year-old male of peculiar skin infection. Metagenomic Next Generation Sequencing and bacterial culture of skin secretions revealed M marseillense. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first patient diagnosed with disseminated M marseillense infection. Here, we identified only 8 other reports of patients with M marseillense infection. Diagnoses: Disseminated M marseillense infection. Interventions: The patient was treated with clarithromycin, rifampicin, moxifloxacin, and ethambutol. Outcomes: The skin lesions of the patient showed significant improvement, and his pruritus and limb pain were notably reduced after 7 months of follow-up. Lessons: Metagenomic Next Generation Sequencing may be a useful tool to diagnose M marseillense infection, but the results should be confirmed by culture and mycobacterial identification.