Cornelia S. Seitz1, Axel Trautemann1, Eva-Bettina Bröcker1, Marianne Abele-Horn2 and Matthias Goebeler3

1Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, 2Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, DE-97080 Würzburg, and 3Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. E-mail: seitz_c@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de

Accepted January 21, 2008.

Sir,

Mycobacterium haemophilum was first isolated in 1978 from a patient with Hodgkin’s disease suffering from septic arthritis and nodular skin lesions (1). Since then, infections with M. haemophilum have primarily been reported in two different groups of patients: (i) immunocompromised adults with organ or bone marrow transplants, haematological malignancies or advanced HIV infection (2); and (ii) immunocompetent children with cervico-facial lymphadenitis (3).The clinical presentation of M. haemophilum infections is variable and may include cellulitis, arthritis, osteomyelitis and pneumonia. Here, we report on a patient suffering from long-standing rheumatoid arthritis who presented with skin lesions that could be attributed to infection with M. haemophilum. This case report illustrates the difficulties of identification, isolation and eradication of this rarely reported pathogen.

CASE REPORT

A 67-year-old woman with a 30-year history of rheumatoid arthritis who was treated with prednisolone (5 mg/day) and azathioprine (50 mg/day) presented to our outpatient clinic with nodular and pustular lesions that had initially developed on her right upper buttock and subsequently spread on her right upper lateral thigh (Fig. 1A). Biopsy of a nodule revealed a granulomatous reaction pattern with scattered neutrophils. On careful microscopic examination a few acid-fast bacilli were identified (Fig. 1B). Upon culture under standard laboratory conditions (cultures for non-tuberculous mycobacteria in both solid and liquid media at 30°C and 37°C with haemin-containing supplements), initially non-tuberculous mycobacteria of the M. chelonae/abscessus complex were isolated. Therapy with clarithromycin (500 mg twice daily) and ciprofloxacin (500 mg twice daily) was initiated, leading to a complete resolution of skin lesions within 4 months. However, several months later, under maintenance antibiotic treatment, several skin nodules developed distally from the original sites of infection. At this time-point, 10 new punch biopsies were obtained. While acid-fast bacilli could be observed microscopically in 7 of 10 biopsies, isolation was not successful in any of them and identification of M. haemophilum was only achieved by 16S rRNA sequencing. Treatment was switched to a combination of rifabutin, myambutol and clarithromycin, leading to a complete resolution of symptoms. Unfortunately, 8 weeks after initiation of the triple therapy, the patient developed complete loss of vision due to drug-induced uveitis and endophthalmitis. After withdrawal of rifabutin and myambutol and subsequent continuation of clarithromycin as monotherapy, the patient’s eye symptoms completely resolved and skin lesions slowly cleared.

Fig. 1. (A) Brownish-reddish papules, nodules and pustules on erythematous skin located on the right upper thigh. (B) Skin biopsy revealing a granulomatous and neutrophilic reaction pattern. Identification of acid-fast micro-organisms in skin tissue (Ziehl-Neelsen staining).

DISCUSSION

M. haemophilum is a slowly growing mycobacterium that differs from other non-tuberculous mycobacteria by its culture requirements. Besides ferric iron supplementation, optimal growing conditions include a temperature of 28–30°C (2, 4). Therefore, with conventional isolation procedures using routine media, M. haemophilum may not be isolated. More recently, new diagnostic procedures using molecular biology techniques, such as real-time PCR, have facilitated quick and reliable detection of mycobacterial strains that have been previously undetectable with conventional methods (5–8). In our case non-tuberculous mycobacteria of the chelonae/abscessus group had initially been isolated. Several months later, after treatment and recurrence of skin lesions, M. haemophilum was identified by 16S rRNA sequencing only, despite optimal culture conditions for isolation of slowly growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Whether the initial identification of the fast-growing mycobacteria of the chelonae/abscessus group was due to contamination or to a co-infection of 2 non-tuberculous mycobacteria with overgrowth of the fast-growing mycobacteria of the chelonae/abscessus group remains speculative.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria are ubiquitously present micro-organisms in soil and water. While in earlier studies the occurrence of M. haemophilum was restricted to areas with large water reservoirs (2) or were due to coral-related injuries (9), more recent reports have also identified clusters of reported cases in urban areas (10). Potential modes of infection with M. haemophilum are currently speculative and may include inhalation and ingestion. Due to the high frequency of cutaneous lesions as the initial presentation in the course of infection, inoculation of micro-organisms via unnoticed microtraumata is also conceivable (2, 11). In this context it may be of interest that clusters of infections were also reported from one medical centre suggesting iatrogenic infections, although the mode of transmission could not be identified (12).

A limited number of M. haemophilum infections have been reported in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn’s disease (2), lupus erythematosus (13) or rheumatoid arthritis (2, 14). While our patient, who received a maintenance therapy with azathioprine and low-dose corticosteroid, initially developed cutaneous lesions, 2 of the 3 previously reported patients with M. haemophilum infection and underlying rheumatoid arthritis initially presented with lymphadenopathy and one patient with synovial involvement (2).

In a case series of 13 immunocompromised adults with M. haemophilum infection communicated by Strauss et al. (10), cutaneous lesions were the most common initial sign of infection and most frequently developed on the extremities, often overlying the joints (15–17). Infrequently, panniculitis and fistula formation are observed. Localized skin infection may disseminate to other sites probably by haematogenous spread rather than following lymphatic drainage.

There are currently no treatment guidelines for M. haemophilum infections (4). Susceptibility testing had revealed sensitivity of M. haemophilum to rifamycin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin and clofazimine, and to a somewhat lesser extent to streptomycin, whereas most isolates were resistant to isoniazid (18). After start of the antibiotic treatment, initial deterioration and even spreading of skin lesions may occur. It is recommended to apply a combination of two antibiotic drugs to minimize the risk of relapses and the development of resistance. Furthermore, antibiotic therapy should be maintained for at least 12 months. In cases presenting with osteomyelitis or lung involvement, treatment with a triple combination including a macrolide, a quinolone and rifamycin may be necessary (18).

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