Mycobacterium chelonae/abscessus infection caused by a bird bite

Jan M. Larson, Sharon Y. Gerlach, Janis E. Blair, Lisa M. Brumble, H. Keels S. Jorn, Kristine M. Thompson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Exotic pet ownership is common in the United States, as is immunocompromise both from medical therapy and common chronic diseases. We present the case of a 68-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease and a nonhealing papule after a cockatoo bite to the hand. Mycobacterium chelonae/abscessus was isolated from the lesion. The patient was treated with surgical excision and 1 year of oral clarithromycin, which relieved her symptoms. Human infections with M. chelonae/abscessus are relatively uncommon but have been increasingly reported in immunocompromised patients. This case reminds practitioners to keep a high index of suspicion in all patients with skin lesions that do not respond to typical therapy, even those patients traditionally considered immunocompetent.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)60-61
Number of pages2
JournalInfectious Diseases in Clinical Practice
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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