Dermatologic manifestations of nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases.

Various nontuberculous mycobacteria can cause infection of skin and soft tissues. These organisms are also known as atypical mycobacteria, anonymous mycobacteria, and mycobacteria other than tuberculosis. These organisms are much more common causes of cutaneous infection than Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria are frequently misdiagnosed because clinicians fail to include them in the differential diagnosis of chronic skin infection.