CUTANEOUS MICROABSCESSES BY MYCOBACTERIUM CHELONAE : CASE REPORTS FROM A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE, TRIPURA

Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections are on the rise. They often cause skin diseases that are misdiagnosed.Two cases of Mycobacterium chelonae infection in immunocompetent patients were presented. First case showed infection of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue without any preceeding history of skin injury by any intervention like trauma or injection, which was a rare manifestation. The second case showed M chelonae infection as a port site infection in a non healing ulcer. The history and clinical presentation of both the cases were documented. Treatment was also reported with subsequent output during further follow ups. Here both the cases showed resistance to commonly used amtimicrobial agents which increased the suspicion of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection among clinicians and microbiologist and made the diagnosis easier.