BACKGROUND: Mycobacterial infections transmitted by acupuncture are an emerging problem. There have been two reports of mycobacterial infections complicating acupuncture in the English literature. AIM: To describe the clinical manifestations and treatment of patients who acquired localized Mycobacterium abscessus infection in the process of acupuncture. METHODS: Clinical manifestations and responses to different methods of treatment were reviewed in 40 patients who developed various skin lesions after acupuncture at a Korean oriental medicine clinic. Results The morphology of the lesions which developed at the acupuncture sites varied. Although the lesions disappeared with the combined administration of clarithromycin and amikacin for 3 months in most cases, five out of 25 patients (20%) showed residual lesions at the end of treatment, and had to be treated with a higher dosage of clarithromycin or alternative antibiotics based on sensitivity tests. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend at least 3 months of treatment with clarithromycin for treating skin infections caused by M. abscessus, with supplementary antibiotics selected based on patients' drug sensitivity tests.
BACKGROUND:Mycobacterial infections transmitted by acupuncture are an emerging problem. There have been two reports of mycobacterial infections complicating acupuncture in the English literature. AIM: To describe the clinical manifestations and treatment of patients who acquired localized Mycobacterium abscessus infection in the process of acupuncture. METHODS: Clinical manifestations and responses to different methods of treatment were reviewed in 40 patients who developed various skin lesions after acupuncture at a Korean oriental medicine clinic. Results The morphology of the lesions which developed at the acupuncture sites varied. Although the lesions disappeared with the combined administration of clarithromycin and amikacin for 3 months in most cases, five out of 25 patients (20%) showed residual lesions at the end of treatment, and had to be treated with a higher dosage of clarithromycin or alternative antibiotics based on sensitivity tests. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend at least 3 months of treatment with clarithromycin for treating skin infections caused by M. abscessus, with supplementary antibiotics selected based on patients' drug sensitivity tests.
Authors: Ye-Jin Jung; Jae-Hong Kim; Hae-Jin Lee; Hana Bak; Seung Phil Hong; Soo Young Jeon; Sung Ku Ahn Journal: Ann Dermatol Date: 2011-02-28 Impact factor: 1.444