Osteomyelitis in the Left First Toe Due to Mycobacterium abscessus after an Injury

Abstract

"Non-tuberculous mycobacteria" (NTM) is a general term for pathogenic mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria are widely present in the natural environment, including soil and water, with over 150 reported species. Mycobacterium abscessus is rare among Non-tuberculous mycobacteria, and there are few reports of extrapulmonary lesions due to Mycobacterium abscessus. We describe a case of osteomyelitis in an adult woman's left first toe caused by Mycobacterium abscessus. The osteomyelitis developed due to an injury in a public bathing facility. A combination of surgical debridement and multidrug therapy was effective. When antimicrobial agents are ineffective in trauma linked to water or soil, mycobacterial infections, including Non-tuberculous mycobacteria, should be considered as differential diagnoses, and laboratory culture targeted to mycobacteria would be recommended.