[Cutaneous infections by Mycobacterium marinum. Description of 3 cases and review of the literature].

BACKGROUND

Human infection by Mycobacterium marinum is infrequent and is currently reported in association with the management of aquariums. The epidemiologic, clinical and microbiologic characteristics of three cases in our hospital are herein reported.

METHODS

Three cases of cutaneous infection by M. marinum attended in our hospital from February 1993 to October 1994 are described.

RESULTS

The three patients were related with the management of aquariums. In two cases the clinical presentation was of sporotricoid cutaneous dissemination, while the third patient presented a localized cutaneous form. The lesions were localized in the upper right extremity in the three cases. The delay in diagnosis was important in two of the cases. Cure, or improvement, were achieved in three cases with' treatment; one with cotrimoxazol, another with first line tuberculostatic drugs and another did not receive treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Human infection by M. marinum is currently described is association with the management of aquariums. The infection is usually cutaneous, alone or well disseminated, with invasion of deep tissue occasionally observed. The lesions are generally found on the upper extremities. Diagnostic delay is frequent. The most adequate treatment appears to be the combination of rifampicin plus etambutol or cotrimoxazol alone, with cases of spontaneous remission also being observed.