Mycobacterial infection of the skin

Abstract

Mycobacterial infection of the skin is uncommon. It is nevertheless important to remain aware of this diagnosis because the clinical features cover a wide spectrum of morphology and can be uncharacteristic, routine diagnostic techniques are not sufficient to establish the diagnosis and because treatment is dictated by the precise causative species and requires expertise. Skin tuberculosis and infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) differ in many aspects and are described separately.